US-Iran Talks Begin in Islamabad Amid Strait of Hormuz Mining Standoff

The United States and Iran opened their most senior direct talks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution on April 11, 2026.

Vice President JD Vance met with Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Al Jazeera

Pakistan's government brokered the summit, leveraging close ties with both Washington and Tehran.

The talks were overshadowed by a standoff over mined waters in the Strait of Hormuz.

Washington charged that the blocked waterway was disrupting roughly 20 percent of global oil.

Iran entered the talks conditioning any peace agreement on the lifting of sanctions and a halt to Israeli strikes on Lebanon.

The Strait of Hormuz was now firmly under Iranian control, giving Iran significant leverage.

Al Jazeera

The blockade disrupted roughly 20 percent of global oil and gas supplies.

Trump struck a hard line ahead of the negotiations, downplaying Tehran's bargaining power.

He indicated that Washington could act unilaterally to secure maritime flows if talks falter.

The United States insisted that Iran give up its stockpile of enriched uranium.

Tehran rejected this and insisted on its right to maintain its nuclear program.

Iran presented a ten-point peace proposal including demands such as Tehran's oversight of the Hormuz Strait.

Trump and his team had their own 15-point proposal.

The central question was whether the talks would yield a compromise or collapse.

Including Lebanon in the ceasefire remained a contentious issue.

Iran repeatedly stated that the ceasefire covers attacks on Hezbollah.

BBC

Israel and the United States asserted that the ceasefire does not include Lebanon.

Israel launched the largest wave of airstrikes in Lebanon since the war began.

Ghalibaf said Lebanon and Iran’s proxies form an integral part of the ceasefire.