Peace negotiations between the US and Iran stretched into early Sunday in Pakistan, the Wall Street Journal reports, as both sides moved into what Iranian state media described as a more technical phase of talks. The sticking point remains control of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran shut down when the war began, two senior Iranian officials told the New York Times. The American delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance and includes Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner; Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf leads the Iranian side. Pakistan is mediating the talks in Islamabad.
Teams of experts were reportedly holding multiple rounds of negotiations.The discussions are taking place under a two-week cease-fire announced earlier by President Trump, with one key objective being the full reopening of the strait, a vital shipping lane for global oil supplies. As the weekend talks began, Iranian officials said they are resisting what they term "excessive demands" from the US regarding control and security arrangements in the strait, according to the Tasnim news agency. Tehran is also pressing for an end to Israeli military operations in Lebanon and for the release of Iranian assets frozen under international sanctions. Lebanon health officials said the death toll from the latest attacks is at 2,020; 357 people were reported killed Wednesday alone.
A Pakistani official told the Washington Post that much of the talk Saturday was positive but that the session went through "mood swings." At the White House, Trump told reporters that he doesn't care whether the negotiations result in an agreement with Iran. "We win, regardless," he said. "We've defeated them militarily."
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