Collateral damage is a universally acknowledged hazard of war – more commonly known for its impact on truth and non-combatant civilians.
The Strait of Hormuz remains among the main points of “serious disagreement” in talks between Iranian and US delegations in Islamabad.
Consultations were continuing despite what it described as excessive US demands, while Iran insisted on preserving its military gains.
The delegation comprised Vice President J D Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Another round of negotiations will likely be held at the earliest, it has been stated.
Pakistani state TV said US and Iranian officials were “sitting directly at the same table” – which was later confirmed by the White House.
Sources also claimed discussions had begun on a positive atmosphere, despite fighting continuing in Lebanon.
 |
| Initial snap revealed showed - only Pak PM and Iranian delegation |
Contentious issues figured at the talks.
The first round of discussions went on for about two hours.
The second round confined to "technical discussions".
These technical talks were divided into key topics, with a focus on Security, Finance and the Strait of Hormuz.
French president Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that he had spoken with Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian, and had emphasized to him the importance of de-escalating the current situation through the ceasefire talks in Pakistan.
“I stressed the need for Iran to restore freedom of navigation and security in the Strait of Hormuz as quickly as possible, to which France stands ready to contribute. I insisted on the importance of fully respecting the ceasefire, including in Lebanon,” Macron said in a post on X.
Israel is not present at the talks as its military said it had bombed 200 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon in the past 24 hours.
In previous negotiations, the US and Iranian teams have been based separately.
During the nuclear negotiations held in Geneva in late February, diplomats from Oman shuttled between the two sides, though the talks collapsed when the US and Israel bombed Iran on 28 February, killing supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
Iranian team held consultations among themselves
Apparently, Trump is looking for an 'exit route' from the war.
On Pakistan mediating US-Iran peace talks, British Political Commentator & Writer David Vance says, "... The fact that Pakistan, which I consider to be a terrorist state, somehow positioned itself as a neutral arbitrator.
It's being held in the wrong place and on the wrong principles... What can even be a positive outcome?... Is it just to say, let's have a form of peace and abandon the Iranian people who rose and were slaughtered in their thousands?
“Sometimes the fate of this kingdom hangs by a hair, but that hair does not break.”
The late Iranian essayist Bastani Parizi wrote those words about his ancient civilisation centuries ago. In April 2026, they read like prophecy.
As The Guardian newspaper from London reported, Trump had to be extricated from his own ultimatum “in a rescue mission led by Pakistan and, ignominiously for him, China” — pulling back in a social media post issued just 88 minutes before his implied deadline.
The White House scrambled late into the night to find a semi-dignified justification for retreating from what had become a piece of catastrophic brinkmanship.
Vance: BBC (Getty Image)
Vice President Vance’s task is straightforward enough but quite critical to traverse.
He has bridge a "gap" between a rhetorical ceasefire in serious peril and a more durable peace.
Giving too much 'concessions' to Iran in order to hold the ceasefire and negotiate the opening of the strait of Hormuz may be a "unpopular" roadmap in the ultimate with the American public.
The results could have a considerable impact on his expected run for the presidency in 2028.
ends
No comments:
Post a Comment