US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would consider travelling to Islamabad if a comprehensive peace agreement with Iran to end hostilities is reached and signed in the Pakistani capital, claiming Tehran has agreed to “almost everything” on the negotiating table. Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn while en route to campaign events in Nevada and Arizona, Trump struck an optimistic tone about the pace of US-Iran negotiations, asserting the two countries were “very close” to concluding a formal accord.
The remarks come at a critical juncture in back-channel diplomacy led by Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership, who have intensified shuttle diplomacy efforts between Washington and Tehran following an inconclusive first round of peace talks held in Islamabad over the weekend. Pakistan’s efforts to broker renewed negotiations followed a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire agreement that took effect after US-Israeli military strikes on February 28 halted escalating hostilities between Washington and Tehran. Multiple reports suggest that negotiating delegations from both the United States and Iran may return to Islamabad within days for a second round of direct talks, underscoring the Pakistani capital’s emerging role as a neutral venue for high-stakes diplomacy.
The positioning of Islamabad as a potential venue for signing a historic Iran-US peace accord would represent a significant diplomatic win for Pakistan, traditionally positioned as a bridge between Washington and Middle Eastern powers. A successful conclusion of talks in the Pakistani capital could elevate Islamabad’s standing as a regional mediator at a time when Pakistan’s geopolitical influence has faced headwinds. The prospect of a Trump visit to sign such an agreement would represent an extraordinary diplomatic moment, lending visibility and legitimacy to Pakistan’s mediation efforts while positioning the country as indispensable to resolving one of the world’s most consequential geopolitical conflicts.
The first round of Islamabad talks, held under conditions of the Pakistan-brokered ceasefire, ended without a breakthrough agreement despite what Pakistani officials characterised as productive discussions. Both delegations left the table without announcing a framework for comprehensive peace, though sources indicated that substantive progress had been made on several technical and procedural matters. The absence of a deal after the initial round suggested that significant gaps remain on core issues, including the scope of sanctions relief, verification mechanisms, and the parameters of any agreement’s duration and enforcement provisions.
Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement reflects Islamabad’s broader strategic interest in de-escalation between the United States and Iran, both major powers with significant influence over South and West Asian affairs. A protracted US-Iran conflict creates instability across the broader region, affecting Pakistan’s own security environment, economic ties, and regional partnerships. Officials in Islamabad have calculated that successful mediation could enhance Pakistan’s international standing and demonstrate its utility as a credible neutral actor in geopolitical crises. However, Islamabad’s success depends on its ability to navigate complex US and Iranian domestic political considerations while maintaining the confidence of both sides.
Trump’s upbeat assessment of negotiations stands in contrast to the cautious language employed by other international observers and the absence of announced breakthroughs. The US President’s willingness to publicly signal optimism about an Iran deal marks a notable shift from his previous hardline rhetoric toward Tehran and could indicate genuine movement behind closed doors or reflect negotiating positioning aimed at building momentum. The timeline for concluding an agreement remains unclear, with diplomatic sources suggesting that several rounds of intensive negotiations may be required before a final accord emerges. The role of other stakeholders—including Israel, Saudi Arabia, and European powers with interests in the outcome—adds further complexity to the negotiation calculus.
The coming weeks will test whether the momentum generated by Pakistan-hosted talks can translate into concrete diplomatic progress. Key indicators to monitor include whether the second round produces tangible movement on substantive issues, whether both delegations publicly acknowledge narrowing gaps, and whether additional rounds are scheduled with increasing frequency. The feasibility of Trump’s potential Islamabad visit depends entirely on reaching a finalised agreement, a threshold that remains uncertain given the depth of historical animosity and the competing demands of US, Iranian, and broader regional constituencies. Success would fundamentally alter the Middle Eastern geopolitical landscape and cement Islamabad’s role as a consequential regional mediator in the post-2020 international order.
