Overview
- - A high-level US delegation led by Vice President J.D. Vance, with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, is headed to Islamabad for Friday talks that aim to turn a two‑week US–Iran ceasefire into a durable deal.
- - The parties disagree on whether the pause covers Lebanon, with Pakistan and Iran saying it does and the US and Israel rejecting that claim after Israeli strikes that Lebanon’s officials say killed at least 182 people.
- - Iran has again restricted traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, with reports of mines, forced turn-backs, and new per‑barrel tolls on tankers, which has slowed shipments through the vital oil chokepoint.
- - Tehran’s participation drew fresh doubt after Iran’s ambassador in Islamabad deleted a post saying the delegation was arriving, while US officials dismissed Iran’s first 10‑point plan as unserious and Vance quipped it looked like ChatGPT wrote it.
- - Pakistan declared local holidays in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for security during the talks, as Israel’s envoy publicly questioned Pakistan’s credibility and President Trump warned US forces would stay in place if the truce breaks.