All articles tagged with #us iran talks
US officials told the NYT that Iran lost track of mine locations in the Strait of Hormuz, deploying mines via decentralized forces and small boats with no clear record of placements, making the strait almost impossible to transit. With no reliable way to remove the mines and no clear command structure, ships are detouring through Iranian waters (where a toll has been proposed), complicating negotiations over reopening the waterway.
US Vice President JD Vance leads the US delegation in Islamabad for high-stakes talks with Iran amid a fragile ceasefire, as CNN reports US intelligence says China plans to ship MANPADs to Iran in the coming weeks, possibly via third countries, with Pakistan mediating and regional tensions mounting.
Pakistan says it will host U.S.-Iran talks to facilitate dialogue amid the monthlong war, a mediation effort supported by some regional players; Iran’s leadership rejected the talks as a cover and warned of retaliation, as fighting continues with rising casualties and risks to shipping and energy supplies through key waterways like the Strait of Hormuz.
Tensions rise as Trump claims Iran wants to strike a deal while a small number of non-hostile vessels pass through the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing indirect talks mediated by Pakistan; reports of an IRGC navy commander killed in an Israeli strike amplify strain, with NATO cautious and the WHO warning of a regional health crisis.
Oil rose as Iran rejected direct talks with the U.S., with Brent up 3.8% to $106.12 and WTI up 3.6% to $93.61 as Tehran said talks via mediators aren’t negotiations; Trump claimed talks are ongoing. TD Securities analysts expect the Fed to stay in wait-and-see mode, with potential rate cuts later in 2026 if inflation remains contained.
Israel moved to intensify airstrikes on Iran with a 48-hour deadline to destroy as much of Tehran’s arms industry as possible, prompted by a reported U.S.-drafted plan to end the war and concerns talks with Iran could begin. Netanyahu’s order comes as Israel's leaders weigh continuing the campaign against mounting costs and international opinion, while some officials worry a protracted war could drag on without clear gains or a decisive outcome.
U.S. stock indexes gained as investors weighed renewed hopes for U.S.–Iran talks, lifting the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq, while oil prices fell below $100 a barrel.
Trump said the U.S. is in talks with a 'top' Iranian official, even as Tehran publicly denies negotiations, underscoring a widening gap between Washington and Tehran. Analysts say the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps now dominates Iran’s political-military system while the state appears weaker and more fragmented, with the Supreme National Security Council coordinating policy under IRGC influence. Figures like Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are seen as potential interlocutors, though others such as Abbas Araghchi may function mainly as channels rather than policy-makers. The situation points to a divided leadership united mainly by a desire to preserve the regime.
Oil prices fell in early Asia trading after President Trump claimed talks to end the war with Iran were progressing, a claim Tehran contradicted; markets priced in potential relief from supply disruptions but analysts warned any price falls depend on credible follow-through and safe shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Airstrikes hit Iran and missiles target Israel and Gulf states as the war intensifies, with the U.S. saying talks with Tehran to end the conflict are underway while Iran denies negotiations. Thousands of U.S. Marines head to the Gulf as oil prices climb, and fighting spills into Lebanon and beyond, complicating regional diplomacy amid rising tensions.
Iranians are divided over any deal that could end the war: some officials call talks fake while others say progress exists; many ordinary Iranians want the fighting to stop but fear a ceasefire that leaves the Islamic Republic in power and could lead to harsher domestic suppression; with internet restrictions limiting information, people rely on risky channels to learn what’s happening; meanwhile the US says talks are advancing as Iran's leadership remains steadfast and the fighting continues.
Pakistan says it’s ready to host potential US-Iran talks to help broker a comprehensive settlement as a war in the region persists; Islamabad and Prime Minister Sharif have signaled openness to mediation, while Iran denies engaging in talks and reports of mediation by Pakistan, Egypt and Turkiye circulate. Analysts describe the diplomacy as fragile and tentative, with Iran insisting on conditions like sanctions relief and guarantees, and the US and Israel maintaining military posture. The effort faces obstacles, including regional dynamics and the likelihood that Israel would resist any deal.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf is floated as a potential U.S. contact in talks as fighting continues, reflecting his prominence as a hard‑line candidate in the June presidential election; his appearances in Beirut and Tehran are noted in the context of possible diplomacy with the United States.
Pakistan says it can host and facilitate talks to end the US-Iran war, with sources suggesting JD Vance could be a US negotiator and Iran distrustful of Washington’s previous envoys; Islamabad is eyed as a venue, though Tehran has not committed and references to Kushner/Witkoff as negotiators are rejected by Iran; broader regional mediation and a recent call between Pakistan’s army chief and Trump frame the diplomacy, while market reactions reflected hopes for de-escalation.
Trump claimed the US and Iran are in talks, a stance that markets welcomed with a rally but Tehran countered by saying the moves amount to buying time, signaling a public rift over what any diplomacy would entail and its likelihood of producing real concessions.