JD Vance Leads US-Iran War Talks in Pakistan

Vice President JD Vance departed for Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday to lead U.S. mediated talks with Iran, aiming to resolve the six-week-old war that began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched military operations against Tehran. The effort comes as a temporary two-week ceasefire, announced Tuesday, teeters on the edge of collapse amid disagreements over its terms.

The conflict stemmed from longstanding U.S. concerns over Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, as well as its backing of proxy groups in the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon. Prior to the war, indirect negotiations involving Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner addressed these issues but failed to prevent escalation. Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route, in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Hezbollah. The ceasefire requires Iran to reopen the strait, but President Donald Trump criticized Tehran on social media Thursday, stating that Iran was doing a very poor job of allowing oil tankers to pass through and that it violated the agreement.

Disputes quickly emerged after the truce's announcement. Iran demanded it...