"U.S., Iran likely to hold talks soon in Pakistan… 'Preparations for direct meeting complete'"

Reports say the United States and Iran are set to meet directly to hold talks aimed at ending the war, about a month after it began.

According to Reuters and dpa on the 27th (local time), German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the U.S. and Iran are expected to move from behind-the-scenes indirect contacts to face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan in the near future.

In an interview with German public radio Deutschlandfunk the same day, Wadephul said, "Based on the information I have, there have been indirect contacts (between the U.S. and Iran), and preparations for a direct meeting have been completed," adding, "It appears talks will be held in Pakistan soon."

He assessed the indirect contacts so far as "the first signals of hope and confidence," offering a positive evaluation.

He added, "It appears the initial positions (of both sides) have already been exchanged in writing via a third party," but noted, "I do not know exactly who brokered the indirect dialogue."

A day earlier, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the U.S. and Iran were holding indirect talks with Pakistan mediating.

In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, "In fact, the U.S. and Iran are conducting indirect talks through messages conveyed via Pakistan."

He said specifically that "the U.S. presented 15 items (a ceasefire proposal), and Iran is reviewing them," adding that "brotherly (Islamic) countries such as Türkiye and Egypt are also backing this plan."

Iran, however, continues to officially deny reports of negotiations with the United States.

According to TASS, Ali Akbar Jokar, Iran’s ambassador to Kazakhstan, told reporters at an event of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council held in Kazakhstan that "the U.S. and Iran are not negotiating at present."

He said, "Based on the information available, no negotiations (between the U.S. and Iran) are currently taking place," adding, "Of course, neighboring countries have expressed interest and are willing to help resume talks."

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that the U.S. and Iran were holding ceasefire talks and that Iran had agreed on key issues such as abandoning nuclear weapons. U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff also disclosed that the U.S. had delivered a ceasefire plan containing 15 demands to Iran via mediator Pakistan.

While Iran has acknowledged exchanging views through a mediator, it maintains that this does not constitute formal negotiations.

Iran is reportedly rejecting the U.S.-proposed ceasefire plan and has put forward a counterproposal that includes compensation for war damages, assurances against recurrence, and recognition of Iran’s sovereignty in the Strait of Hormuz.

Lee Bo-bae, freelance reporter for Hankyung.com newsinfo@hankyung.com