The eyes of the world are on Pakistan’s capital Islamabad as it plays host to this weekend’s make or break negotiations between the United States and Iran. The Pakistanis, whose mediation efforts pushed the two warring countries to agree a fragile two-week ceasefire, are taking no chances. Security has been stepped up, with thousands of police officers and security forces patrolling the streets of the capital. Hope and trepidation are the order of the day when it comes to ending a Middle East war that has already cost thousands of lives and plunged the world into economic crisis.

The American delegation is being led by J.D. Vance, the US vice-president. He is joined by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, both of whom took part in indirect talks with Iranian negotiators in Oman before the US and Israel launched the war against Iran at the end of February.

Vance has been given an unprecedented foreign policy role in this conflict. This is both high-risk and high reward for the Vice President, who has his eyes on a run for the presidency in 2028. He is a known sceptic when it comes to US involvement in foreign wars but has managed to keep a relatively low profile during this conflict. Now comes his big chance on the world stage: if Vance succeeds in pulling off a peace deal, he will gain deserved plaudits – should he fail,........

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