West Asia War: World waits with bated breath as US, Iran head to table in Pakistan
Negotiators from Iran and the United States are set for crucial talks in Islamabad. The discussions aim to stabilize a fragile ceasefire. Tensions are high due to exchanges of fire and Iran's actions concerning the Hormuz Strait. Kuwait reported a...
By Agencies |
Reuters
U.S. Vice President JD Vance walks to speak to the media before boarding Air Force Two for expected departure to Pakistan for talks on Iran, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., April 10, 2026.
Negotiators from Iran and the US were preparing on Friday for high-level talks planned to start a day later in Islamabad, Pakistan, seeking to steady a ceasefire teetering over Israel and Hezbollah exchanging fire and Tehran's chokehold over the Hormuz Strait.
US Vice President JD Vance was set to take off from Washington, with Iran still remaining mum over its team as it tried to pressure Washington to halt Israeli attacks in Lebanon. The Tasnim news agency, close to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, claimed that talks would "remain suspended" otherwise.
Meanwhile, Kuwait said it faced a drone attack on Thursday that it blamed on Iran and its militia allies in the region. Though Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard denied launching any assault, it has in the past carried out attacks it did not claim.
In addition, Israel-Lebanon negotiations are also expected to begin next week at the State Department in Washington - a potential boost to Middle East ceasefire efforts - according to a US official and a person familiar with the plans, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the delicacy of the matter.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump appeared to cast doubt on the effectiveness of the ceasefire, posting on social media, "Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonourable some would say, of allowing oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!"
