Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, is under stringent security measures in anticipation of landmark talks between Iran and the United States, which could potentially resolve the destructive conflict in the Middle East. Although the ceasefire between the US and Iran appears vulnerable due to Israel’s ongoing attacks on Lebanon and disagreements over negotiation terms, Pakistani authorities affirm that the pivotal discussions will occur as scheduled this weekend.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh stated that Pakistan has been actively working discreetly to preserve the peace and uphold the delicate truce. He noted that Pakistan’s efforts have prevented Iran from responding to the assaults on Lebanon.
In preparation for the initial session set for Saturday, military and paramilitary forces have been stationed throughout the city, with enhanced security protocols in place. A public holiday was announced for Thursday and Friday, leaving the streets unusually quiet. Officials indicated that primary delegations were expected to arrive late Thursday and early Friday.
The US delegation will be headed by Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. On the Iranian side, the team includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, both involved in prior truce discussions, along with high-ranking members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
Given the elevated security concerns, Pakistani officials have prepared three or four potential locations for the meeting. Prominent participants are likely to be accommodated at the upscale Serena Hotel in Islamabad, which could also serve as the venue. The hotel has been evacuated of other guests, and a three-kilometer radius of surrounding roads has been closed to traffic and secured by the military.
The White House has issued a directive to US government employees cautioning against using their roles to gain advantages in futures trading, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal and Reuters citing unnamed sources. Certain major policy moves by President Trump have been preceded by strategically placed bets, prompting speculation about possible leaks of confidential information.
Just before the ceasefire was announced this week, several new accounts on the Polymarket prediction platform placed precise wagers on a fighting halt by April 7, yielding profits in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Market data and Reuters analysis also revealed that unknown traders placed $500 million bets on Brent and WTI crude futures in a brief one-minute window prior to Trump’s announcement of a five-day postponement of attacks on Iran’s energy facilities on March 23, after which oil prices dropped 15%.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle commented to Reuters that while President Trump aims for a robust and equitable stock market, members of Congress and other officials must not exploit nonpublic information for personal gain.
The International Monetary Fund’s leader announced on Thursday that the organization will reduce its global growth projections because of the Middle East conflict, highlighting the lasting impacts despite the tentative truce. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva remarked that even in the most optimistic outlook, there would be no simple restoration to previous conditions.
She explained that rising energy prices, damaged infrastructure, interrupted supplies, and diminished investor trust would result in lower-than-anticipated growth. The IMF expects to offer up to $50 billion in urgent aid to nations impacted by the war, with food shortages potentially affecting at least 45 million individuals. Due to the war’s broader effects, the fund anticipates an increase in requests for balance-of-payments support ranging from $20 billion to $50 billion, with the lower figure depending on the ceasefire’s stability.
President Donald Trump has described right-wing commentators Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones as ‘not MAGA, they’re losers.’ These individuals had generally backed Trump during his term but recently voiced criticism of the Iran conflict. In an extensive message on Truth Social, Trump directed personal criticisms at them, key figures in conservative media. He added that as president, he could easily win their support, but he ignores their outreach due to his focus on global and national matters, leading them to turn critical.
The conflict with Iran has deepened divisions within Trump’s already unstable MAGA coalition.
