US And Iran Begin Direct Peace Talks In Islamabad Amid Fragile Ceasefire

The United States and Iran began direct peace talks in Islamabad on April 11.

Iranian state media reported the talks were initially meant to be proximate, but sources said the two teams were involved in direct negotiations.

akhbar-rooz

The US delegation was led by Vice President JD Vance, and Iran's delegation was led by parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The talks came amid a fragile two-week ceasefire that had halted US and Israeli air strikes on Iran.

The ceasefire had not ended Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz or calmed the parallel war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Iran insisted its participation was conditional on the cessation of Israeli strikes in Lebanon and the unfreezing of Iranian assets.

The US had not agreed to release frozen Iranian assets, a senior US official said.

Al Jazeera

Israel had pushed back strongly against Pakistan's involvement as a mediator.

Trump announced the US was starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to countries all over the world.

Trump claimed victory over Iran and warned the country not to try to play us.

He posted that the only reason they are alive today is to negotiate.

The Washington Post noted Trump was paying a growing political and economic price at home.

The Guardian reported conflicting accounts over whether US warships had crossed the Strait of Hormuz.

Israel and Lebanon were expected to hold direct talks in Washington next week.

The Israeli military continued strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

CBS News

At least 1,701 civilians had been killed in Iran as of April 10.

Lebanon's health ministry said at least 1,953 people had been killed in the latest fighting.

The American death toll stood at 13 service members.