LIVE | U.S. and Iran define the course of war in crucial peace talks in Pakistan
Both Trump and Islamic theocracy officials have threatened to restart attacks in the event that either side violates any of the clauses agreed to in the ceasefire.
Vice President JD Vance arriving for the meeting in Islamabad.
Representatives of President Donald Trump's administration and the Iran launched peace talks in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Saturday to end the warafter several weeks in which both nations have been engaged in a fierce clash that has resulted in the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the elimination of both the supreme leader and senior military and political leaders of the Islamic theocracy.
Although Washington and Tehran agreed last Tuesday to a two-week ceasefire, tensions between the U.S. government and the Iranian dictatorship remain, to the point that both Trump and the authorities of the Islamic theocracy have threatened to resume attacks in the event that either side violates any of the agreed clauses.
Iranian regime hardens its stance in the Strait of Hormuz and threatens military vessels
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy issued a warning stating that any military vessel attempting to transit the Gulf waterway would face serious consequences, emphasizing that Iranian authorities would only allow the passage of civilian ships.
In a statement released by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the IRGC said it maintains full control over activity in the Strait of Hormuz. “The IRGC Navy has full authority to manage the Strait of Hormuz intelligently. Only civilian vessels are allowed to pass through under specific conditions,” the statement read.
The military force also rejected earlier claims by U.S. Central Command that two American destroyers had transited the strait. The IRGC’s remarks come amid ongoing peace negotiations between the administration of President Donald Trump and the Iranian regime, with the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz emerging as a central issue.
Trump says the U.S. will emerge victorious from negotiations with Iran regardless of the outcome
President Donald Trump weighed in on the latest negotiations with Iran, asserting that the United States will come out victorious regardless of the outcome. “Regardless of what happens, we win,” the Republican leader said, adding that he has been “getting a lot of reports” from the ongoing talks in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said his administration already holds a decisive advantage. “We’ve totally defeated that country. So let’s see what happens: Maybe they make a deal, maybe they don’t. It doesn’t matter. From the standpoint of America, we win,” he stated. The president also reiterated that reaching an agreement with Tehran is not essential from his perspective. According to Trump, whether or not a deal is reached “makes no difference to me,” as he again argued that U.S. forces have dismantled Iran’s air force, navy, and leadership.
The president also pointed to ongoing efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, saying the United States is acting on behalf of other nations he described as “afraid or weak or cheap,” adding that “We were not helped by NATO.”
Returning to the negotiations, Trump maintained his stance: “Let’s see what happens, but from my standpoint I don’t care.” He also claimed that Iran may have deployed sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz and said U.S. forces are currently “sweeping the strait.” Trump further warned that China would face “big problems” if it were to supply weapons to Iran.
The U.S. begins operations to clear sea mines from the Strait of Hormuz
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the United States military has launched operations to remove sea mines currently present in the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement shared on its official X account and later highlighted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CENTCOM detailed that the destroyers USS Michael Murphy and USS Frank E. Peterson began “setting conditions” earlier in the day to support the operation.
“Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,” said the command’s chief, Adm. Brad Cooper, in the post.
The announcement came shortly after President Donald Trump stated that his administration had officially begun “the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz,” emphasizing that it was being done “as a favor” to numerous countries, including China.
“We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Incredibly, they don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves,” the Republican president added.
The White House reported that negotiations with Iran are already underway
Iran's state television stated during the afternoon of this Saturday (local time) that two rounds of negotiations have already been held between the different parties and that a third one will take place either in the evening hours or this Sunday. For its part, the White House detailed that lthe talks with Iranian representatives were already "ongoing."
According to the AFP news agency, a Pakistani source involved in the negotiations reported on condition of anonymity that "the talks are moving in the right direction" and that "The general atmosphere is cordial."
The U.S. delegation is headed by Vice President JD Vance, who is accompanied by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law. For its part, Iran is represented by its parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, as well as by Foreign Minister Abas Araqchi.
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