US-Iran Talks Begin in Pakistan on Hormuz Strait Security

High-level delegations from the United States and Iran convened in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday for talks aimed at ending a six-week conflict and restoring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, amid conflicting reports over the potential release of frozen Iranian assets.

A senior Iranian official claimed that Washington has agreed to unfreeze approximately $6 billion in assets held in Qatari and other foreign banks, describing the move as a sign of seriousness in the negotiations. The official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the discussions, linked the release directly to guarantees for secure passage through the strait, a vital artery for global oil shipments. However, a U.S. official swiftly denied the report, stating that no such agreement exists and that the meetings had not yet begun.

The American team, led by Vice President JD Vance and including special envoy Steve Witkoff and advisor Jared Kushner, arrived at an Islamabad air base aboard U.S. Air Force aircraft. They were greeted by Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. The Iranian delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament...