The United States and Iran began talks on Saturday in Pakistan, days after a fragile two-week deal was announced, as a war that has killed thousands of people and roiled global markets entered its seventh week.
Iran’s state-run news agency said the three-party talks had begun after Iranian conditions, including a reduction in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, and after US and Iranian officials met separately with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. There were no immediate additional details, or comment from the US.
An American delegation led by Vice President JD Vance and an Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf have been discussing how to advance a ceasefire that has been threatened by deep disagreements and continued Israeli attacks against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“I can’t say whether they are sitting in the same room or in different rooms, but the talks have started and are going well,” said another Pakistani official with knowledge of peace efforts, who did not want to be named because they are not authorized to speak to the media.
Iran sets ‘red lines’ including compensation for strikes
Iran reiterated parts of its previous proposal, with its delegation telling Iranian state television that it had presented some of the plan’s ideas as “red lines” in meetings with Sharif. That includes compensation for damage caused by US-Israeli strikes that started the war on Feb. 28 and release frozen Iranian assets.
The war has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 1,953 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in the Gulf Arab states. Iran’s hold on the key Strait of Hormuz has largely cut off the Persian Gulf and its oil and gas exports to the world economy, sending energy prices soaring. The attack caused permanent damage to infrastructure in half a dozen countries in the Middle East.
In Tehran, residents told The Associated Press they were skeptical but optimistic about talks after weeks of airstrikes have left their country of 93 million people devastated. Some say the road to recovery will be long.
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“Peace alone is not enough for our country, because we have been hit hard, there have been huge costs,” said 62-year-old Amir Razzai Far.
Meanwhile, Israel went ahead with strikes in Lebanon after saying there was no ceasefire there. Iran and Pakistan disagree. Lebanon’s state-run news agency reported that at least three people were killed. No strikes were reported this afternoon.
Officials stand on key issues ahead of talks
U.S. and Iranian officials said they were tough and issued new demands and preconditions as talks neared. President Donald Trump posted repeatedly on social media until Saturday, saying that Iranian officials “have no cards” in negotiating with them.
“The reason they are alive today is to talk!” he wrote.
He accused Iran of using the Strait of Hormuz, an important artery of the world’s energy supply, for fraud, and told reporters on Friday that it would be opened “with or without them.”
On Saturday, Trump said on social media that the US had begun to “clear” the current, but it was unclear whether he was referring to the use of mines there or Iran’s broader ability to control the area.
Islamabad was deserted as security forces blocked roads and authorities urged residents to stay indoors.
Vance said on Friday the US was optimistic about the talks, but warned: “If they’re going to try to play us, they’re going to find out that the negotiating team doesn’t accept that.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was entering the talks with “deep distrust” after attacking Iran during previous talks. Araghchi, who is part of Iran’s delegation to Pakistan, said on Saturday that his country is ready to retaliate if it is attacked again.
Iran and the United States have presented competing proposals ahead of talks that show a wide gap on key issues.
Iran’s 10-point proposal called for a guaranteed end to the war and demanded control of the Strait of Hormuz. It included an end to hostilities with Iran’s “regional allies,” clearly calling for an end to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah.
The United States’ 15-point proposal includes limiting Iran’s nuclear program and reopening the strait.
Israel and Lebanon will have direct talks
Talks between Israel and Lebanon are expected to begin on Tuesday in Washington, the office of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Friday, after a surprise announcement by Israel authorizing talks despite the countries having no official ties.
Israel wants the Lebanese government to take responsibility for disarming Hezbollah, as envisioned in the November 2024 ceasefire. But it is unclear whether the Lebanese army can disarm the militant group, which has survived decades of efforts to curb its power.
Israel’s insistence that the ceasefire with Iran does not constitute a temporary pause in its fight against Hezbollah has threatened to derail the deal. The terrorist group joined the fight to support Iran in the opening days. Israel followed up with airstrikes and ground attacks.
On the day the ceasefire deal with Iran was announced, Israel hit Beirut with airstrikes, killing more than 300 people in Lebanon’s worst day since the war began, according to the country’s Health Ministry.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a sticking point
Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz proved a major strategic advantage in the war. Commercial ships avoid the strait, effectively blocking the passage of oil, natural gas and fertilizers.
The price of Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, was above $94 on Saturday, up more than 30% since the war began.
Before the conflict, about a fifth of the world’s traded oil usually passed through the strait in more than 100 ships a day. Since the ceasefire, only 12 have been recorded passing through.
Iran has dropped the idea of charging passing ships as part of a peace deal, although the idea has been widely rejected by countries including the United States and Iran’s neighbor Oman.
