Senior U.S., Iranian Officials Hold Direct Talks in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD (Afghan Verified) -- Senior U.S. officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance, special representative Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, met with Iranian leaders Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, parliament speaker, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Islamabad on Saturday for direct negotiations. The two-hour talks, mediated by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, paused after initial discussions. A Pakistani Army chief was also present.

President Donald Trump posted on social media: "We have now begun the process of clearing the Strait of Hormuz" and claimed "all Iranian mine-laying ships destroyed."

A U.S. official stated that U.S. ships had passed through the Strait of Hormuz. However, Iranian and Pakistani sources denied this claim.

A senior Iranian source said the U.S. agreed to release frozen Iranian assets held in Qatar and other locations. A U.S. official denied any such agreement.

Iranian preconditions for the talks included unfreezing assets, a regional ceasefire and war reparations, according to Reuters. Iran also called for a ceasefire in Lebanon, which U.S. and Israeli officials excluded from discussions.

Iran's government spokesman said: "We negotiate with a finger on the trigger… ready for dialogue but aware of distrust." The talks occurred amid rising regional tensions, including disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.