US and Iran Hold Talks in Pakistan; Strait of Hormuz Tensions Persist
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a delegation led by Vice President JD Vance will travel to Pakistan on Monday for negotiations with Iran. The talks aim to extend a fragile ceasefire expiring Wednesday, as tensions persist over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has not confirmed participation while the U.S. naval blockade remains in place.
Cindy Saine / Wikimedia (Public domain)S. S. negotiators will head to Pakistan on Monday for another round of talks with Iran. The White House stated Vice President JD Vance will lead the delegation, accompanied by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
U.S. official confirmed Vance's participation in the Islamabad talks. S. N. also stated Vance will lead the American delegation for discussions with Iran in Pakistan.
Pakistani authorities began tightening security in Islamabad. S. advance security teams were already on the ground in Pakistan. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke by phone with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday.
U.S. and Iran. Iran's Tasnim news agency reported Iran has no decision to send a negotiating delegation to Pakistan as long as there is a naval blockade.
Iran's chief negotiator Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf said there will be no retreat in the field of diplomacy in an interview aired on state television late Saturday. S. and Iran remain far from any permanent peace agreement.
Iran's military said the Strait of Hormuz had returned to its previous state and requires Iran's approval to travel through. Iran received new proposals from the United States on Saturday. S.
Is risking the whole ceasefire package with its blockade. Khatibzadeh said Iran won’t hand over its stock of 970 pounds (440 kilograms) of enriched uranium to the United States, calling the idea a nonstarter. He added that Iran is ready to address any concerns regarding enriched uranium.
A fragile ceasefire is set to expire by Wednesday. Washington and Tehran remain in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Issues in negotiations include Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, its regional proxies, and control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's president said Trump does not have the justification to deprive Iran of its nuclear rights. -proposed deal, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. Trump said to ABC that Iran has committed a serious ceasefire violation in Hormuz, but there will be a peace deal one way or another, the nice way or the hard way, it’s going to happen.
Trump spoke to ABC News today about whether he still thinks he will get a peace deal with Iran. Trump said to MSNBC that the delegation in the talks with Iran will include Witkoff and Kushner, but Vance will not participate for security reasons. S.
Blockade on ships heading to and from Iranian ports. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil trade normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran fired on two India-flagged merchant ships on Saturday, forcing them to turn around.
India summoned Iran’s ambassador over the incident with the two merchant ships. Iran earlier let several India-bound ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran fired at British and French ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
At least two merchant vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz came under fire on Saturday. UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed a reported incident in waters northeast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz. A tanker captain reported that vessels belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guard approached his ship before opening fire.
Iran's state broadcaster IRIB confirmed Tehran has now closed the Strait of Hormuz. Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire by firing at ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz, a total violation of the ceasefire.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei called the US blockade an act of aggression on Sunday. Qalibaf said it is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said we are fully prepared, if they make the slightest mistake, we will respond with full force.
Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz’s reopening after a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took hold on Friday. A 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon was struck on Thursday. Trump said the US blockade will remain in full force until Tehran reaches a deal with the United States.
Oil prices plunged as Iran said the Strait of Hormuz is open during ceasefire. Brent crude sank by a tenth after Iran said the key waterway is open for commercial ships for the rest of the ceasefire.
Oil price dropped below $90 a barrel after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz is open. The war is now in its eighth week. S. and Israel launched the Iran war on February 28 during talks over Tehran’s nuclear program.
The war has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran. The war has killed more than 2,290 people in Lebanon. The war has killed 23 people in Israel.
Fifteen Israeli soldiers have been killed in Lebanon. Thirteen US service members have been killed throughout the region. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz until the war fully ends.
Iran requires Iran-designated routes, payment of fees, and issuance of transit certificates for the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has recently acted as Iran’s de facto top decision-making body. There is a 68% chance of a permanent Iran x US peace deal by June 30, per Polymarket.
Trump's job rating hits a second-term low as two-thirds of Americans disapprove of his handling of inflation and the Iran war, per NBC News Decision Desk Poll. Sources said Vice President Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner would attend the talks in Pakistan.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
6 events- 2026-05-02
U.S. President Donald Trump announced delegation to Pakistan for Iran talks starting Monday.
20 sourcesFrance 24 · Fortune · The Washington Post · washingtontimes.com - 2026-05-01
Iran fired on two India-flagged merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing them to turn around.
3 sourcesFortune · GB News - 2026-05-01
Iran received new proposals from the United States.
1 sourceFortune - 2026-04-30
10-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon took hold.
2 sourcesFortune · The Guardian - 2026-04-29
10-day ceasefire in Lebanon struck.
1 sourceThe Guardian - 2026-02-28
U.S. and Israel launched war on Iran during nuclear program talks.
1 sourceFortune
Potential Impact
- 01
Extended closure of Strait of Hormuz disrupts global oil supply, affecting one-fifth of world trade.
- 02
Ongoing war contributes to declining US presidential approval ratings on foreign policy.
- 03
Failed talks could lead to escalation, including US strikes on Iranian infrastructure.
- 04
Pakistan's mediation role enhances its diplomatic influence in Middle East affairs.
- 05
Ceasefire extension may stabilize regional shipping and lower oil prices further.
Transparency Panel
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