Negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad have not yet produced any official outcomes and appear to be at a standstill. Iranian media outlets report that the US has made what Tehran considers to be “excessive demands” particularly concerning the Strait of Hormuz. CNN, citing a source close to the Iranian negotiating team, mentioned that the US demands are “unacceptable”. US President Donald Trump is demanding the unconditional clearance of the important strait, which Iran has largely blocked and mined in response to US-Israeli attacks.
The talks, which are being mediated by Pakistan and included participation from US Vice President JD Vance, have been moved to an expert level. Specialized committees are meeting to negotiate “technical details” across economic, military, legal, and nuclear issues. Reports indicate that the negotiations are expected to continue into the night and may resume on Sunday. A notable development in these discussions is that Washington and Tehran are negotiating directly with each other, rather than solely through intermediaries.