Peace talks under way in Pakistan; Two US warships pass through Strait of Hormuz
The United States and Iran began historic face-to-face talks in Pakistan on Saturday, just days after declaring a fragile two-week ceasefire, as the war that has killed thousands of people and shaken global markets enters its seventh week.
The White House confirmed the direct nature of the talks, which were a rare example of high-level participation.
Iran’s state news agency said trilateral talks involving Pakistan began after Iran’s preconditions were met, including reducing Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, and after US and Iranian officials met separately with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The US delegation, led by Vice President J.D. Vance, and the Iranian delegation, led by House Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, were discussing how to advance the ceasefire, which is already threatened by deep disagreements and ongoing Israeli attacks against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Talks are now underway between Vance, a reluctant advocate of the war who has little diplomatic experience and has warned Iran not to “try to play us,” and Qalibaf, a former commander of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard who has issued some of Iran’s most fiery statements since the war began.
AP with Josefine Ganko
