United States and Iran hold peace talks in Islamabad

United States and Iranian delegations have gathered in Islamabad, Pakistan, for high-stakes peace negotiations aimed at ending a six-week conflict that has disrupted the global economy. The U.S. team is led by Vice President J.D. Vance, accompanied by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while the Iranian delegation includes Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The talks are structured in phases, initially involving separate meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, followed by indirect exchanges and potential direct face-to-face discussions. Key issues on the table include the status of the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear proliferation, the situation in Lebanon, and the release of frozen Iranian assets. Reports from Al Jazeera suggest potential progress on unfreezing assets, though Iranian officials remain skeptical of U.S. intentions, citing past breaches of commitments. Security in Islamabad is tight, with 10,000 personnel deployed to secure the venue at the Serena Hotel. Ongoing Israeli military actions in Lebanon have been noted as a significant complicating factor for the proceedings.