US-Iran war talks in Pakistan LIVE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, as delegations from the United States and Iran hold peace talks, in Islamabad.
US-Iran war talks in Pakistan LIVE: US and Iran peace talks began in Islamabad on Saturday after US and Iranian officials held separate talks with Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif. A US official on Saturday denied reports that Washington has agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets, after a report by Reuters claimed it, citing a senior Iranian source.
The report said that ahead of Islamabad talks, Washington has agreed to defreeze Iranian assets in Qatar and other banks. The move is crucial as defreezing of assets was one of the two preconditions put forward by Iran to begin the talks with the US.
Even as US and Iranian delegates have arrived in Islamabad for crucial talks amid a two-week pause to Middle East fighting, suspense over the timing of the talks continues. The Iranian state media is reporting the timing if the negotiations will determined only after the after the status of preconditions is clarified.
Earlier, Iran chief negotiator has said that a ceasefire in Lebanon and removal of sanctions on Iran are two preconditions that must be met to start the negotiations in Pakistan’s capital.
US vice president and chief negotiator JD Vance arrived in Islamabad on Saturday morning and was welcomed by Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, foreign minister Ishaq Dar and interior minister Mohsin Naqvi. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner from the US side also arrived in Islamabad for crucial talks with Iran in Pakistan’s capital city.
The high-stakes talks between Iran and the US are set to be held in Islamabad today with Pakistan as the mediator. According to AFP, the talks are expected to be indirect and the two delegations will be sitting in separate rooms. Pakistani officials will shuttle proposals between them, mirroring the format used in earlier Oman-mediated rounds.
China is preparing to ship weapons to Iran amid its fragile truce with the United States, CNN reported, citing US intelligence sources. Beijing is reportedly working to ship the new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks through third countries to mask their true origin. This comes at a time when US and Iran are set to hold crucial negotiations in Islamabad today while the truce is already threatened by Israel’s aggression in Lebanon.
As US vice president JD Vance was en route Islamabad to lead to US delegation for the negotiations, US President Donald Trump wished him luck and said, “Well, I wish them luck. He’s got a big thing. I’ll find out what’s going on. They’re militarily defeated, and now we’re going to open up the gulf (Strait of Hormuz) with or without a deal. But that’ll be open, we’re going to be on the straight as they call it.”
Meanwhile, Iran struck a cautious tone as its delegation landed in Pakistan late Friday, making it clear that while dialogue is on the table, trust is not. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is leading the delegation said, “Our experience of negotiations with the Americans has always been met with failure and breach of promise.” On the American side, Vice President JD Vance is en route Islamabad and will be joined by Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Iran also warned that the failure to meet the preconditions could hamper the peace process as Ghalibaf on Friday said a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets were the prerequisites to start the negotiations with the US.
In a post on Truth Social, he wrote, “The Iranians don’t seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!”
‘Make or break’ moment, says Pakistan
Hosting the talks, Pakistan has acknowledged the difficult road ahead. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the negotiations as entering a decisive phase.
“A temporary ceasefire has been announced, but now an even more difficult stage lies ahead: the stage of achieving a lasting ceasefire, of resolving complicated issues through negotiations,” news agency AFP quoted Sharif as saying.
“This is that stage which, in English, is called the equivalent of ‘make or break,” he added.
Iran’s high-level team in Islamabad
The Iranian delegation includes foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, defence and security officials, economic policymakers, and lawmakers.
Pointing to earlier attacks during ongoing talks, Ghalibaf said: “They attacked us twice in the middle of the negotiations. We have goodwill but no trust,” news agency ANI reported.
However, Tehran has reiterated that previously stated preconditions must be met. Officials have warned that failure to do so could derail the talks altogether.
Islamabad peace talks
The Islamabad talks come against the backdrop of a fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran – one that Tehran says also includes a halt to Israeli operations in Lebanon. While Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump has denied having any such arrangement.
Lebanese authorities report that over 1,950 people have been killed in recent weeks of fighting, with more than 350 deaths recorded on a single day shortly after the ceasefire took effect, reported AFP.
The Islamabad meeting is being seen as a critical attempt to convert this temporary pause into a more durable peace framework and bring an end to the prolonged West Asia conflict.
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The report said that ahead of Islamabad talks, Washington has agreed to defreeze Iranian assets in Qatar and other banks. The move is crucial as defreezing of assets was one of the two preconditions put forward by Iran to begin the talks with the US.
Even as US and Iranian delegates have arrived in Islamabad for crucial talks amid a two-week pause to Middle East fighting, suspense over the timing of the talks continues. The Iranian state media is reporting the timing if the negotiations will determined only after the after the status of preconditions is clarified.
Earlier, Iran chief negotiator has said that a ceasefire in Lebanon and removal of sanctions on Iran are two preconditions that must be met to start the negotiations in Pakistan’s capital.
US vice president and chief negotiator JD Vance arrived in Islamabad on Saturday morning and was welcomed by Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, foreign minister Ishaq Dar and interior minister Mohsin Naqvi. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner from the US side also arrived in Islamabad for crucial talks with Iran in Pakistan’s capital city.
The high-stakes talks between Iran and the US are set to be held in Islamabad today with Pakistan as the mediator. According to AFP, the talks are expected to be indirect and the two delegations will be sitting in separate rooms. Pakistani officials will shuttle proposals between them, mirroring the format used in earlier Oman-mediated rounds.
China is preparing to ship weapons to Iran amid its fragile truce with the United States, CNN reported, citing US intelligence sources. Beijing is reportedly working to ship the new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks through third countries to mask their true origin. This comes at a time when US and Iran are set to hold crucial negotiations in Islamabad today while the truce is already threatened by Israel’s aggression in Lebanon.
As US vice president JD Vance was en route Islamabad to lead to US delegation for the negotiations, US President Donald Trump wished him luck and said, “Well, I wish them luck. He’s got a big thing. I’ll find out what’s going on. They’re militarily defeated, and now we’re going to open up the gulf (Strait of Hormuz) with or without a deal. But that’ll be open, we’re going to be on the straight as they call it.”
Meanwhile, Iran struck a cautious tone as its delegation landed in Pakistan late Friday, making it clear that while dialogue is on the table, trust is not. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is leading the delegation said, “Our experience of negotiations with the Americans has always been met with failure and breach of promise.” On the American side, Vice President JD Vance is en route Islamabad and will be joined by Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Iran also warned that the failure to meet the preconditions could hamper the peace process as Ghalibaf on Friday said a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets were the prerequisites to start the negotiations with the US.
In a post on Truth Social, he wrote, “The Iranians don’t seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!”
‘Make or break’ moment, says Pakistan
Hosting the talks, Pakistan has acknowledged the difficult road ahead. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the negotiations as entering a decisive phase.
“A temporary ceasefire has been announced, but now an even more difficult stage lies ahead: the stage of achieving a lasting ceasefire, of resolving complicated issues through negotiations,” news agency AFP quoted Sharif as saying.
“This is that stage which, in English, is called the equivalent of ‘make or break,” he added.
Iran’s high-level team in Islamabad
The Iranian delegation includes foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, defence and security officials, economic policymakers, and lawmakers.
Pointing to earlier attacks during ongoing talks, Ghalibaf said: “They attacked us twice in the middle of the negotiations. We have goodwill but no trust,” news agency ANI reported.
However, Tehran has reiterated that previously stated preconditions must be met. Officials have warned that failure to do so could derail the talks altogether.
Islamabad peace talks
The Islamabad talks come against the backdrop of a fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran – one that Tehran says also includes a halt to Israeli operations in Lebanon. While Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump has denied having any such arrangement.
Lebanese authorities report that over 1,950 people have been killed in recent weeks of fighting, with more than 350 deaths recorded on a single day shortly after the ceasefire took effect, reported AFP.
The Islamabad meeting is being seen as a critical attempt to convert this temporary pause into a more durable peace framework and bring an end to the prolonged West Asia conflict.
Follow all the updates here:
Apr 11, 2026 8:11:27 PM IST
US-Iran war talks in Pakistan LIVE: China preparing weapons shipment to Iran, says report
US-Iran war talks in Pakistan LIVE: US intelligence indicates China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks, CNN reported late on Friday, citing three people familiar with recent intelligence assessments.
The network said there are indications that Beijing is working to route the shipments through third countries to mask their origin.
Apr 11, 2026 7:57:32 PM IST
US-Iran war talks in Pakistan LIVE: Pakistani five-star hotel becomes unlikely site for US-Iran talks
US-Iran war talks in Pakistan LIVE: The luxury five-star Serena Hotel in Pakistan’s capital has become the unlikely venue for peace talks aimed at ending the Iran war. The city is under unprecedented security as the talks unfold, with shops and offices shut for two days.
Thousands of security personnel, including paramilitary and army troops, have set up checkpoints and blockades across the capital, cordoning off the Red Zone where government offices and embassies are located.
Apr 11, 2026 7:36:01 PM IST
US-Iran war talks in Pakistan LIVE: Israel army says hit over 200 Hezbollah targets in 24 hours
US-Iran war talks in Pakistan LIVE: The Israeli military said Saturday it had struck more than 200 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon within the last 24 hours, among them rocket launchers.
“In the last 24 hours, the IDF struck more than 200 Hezbollah terror targets in Lebanon. The Israeli air force continues to strike Hezbollah infrastructure and aid the ground forces operating in southern Lebanon,” the military said.
Apr 11, 2026 7:28:01 PM IST
US-Iran war talks in Pakistan LIVE: Fresh drama on Strait of Hormuz as peace talks unfold in Islamabad
US-Iran war talks in Pakistan LIVE: A fresh drama unfolded on Saturday after reports emerged of a US destroyer moving from Fujairah port towards the Strait of Hormuz even as the US and Iranian delegation began peace talks in Islamabad.
The news of the movement of the American vessel was met with an immediate warning from Iran: Any US military vessel crossing the Hormuz Strait will be attacked within 30 minutes. However following the warning, the ship reportedly turnd back.
Apr 11, 2026 7:16:21 PM IST
US-Iran war talks in Pakistan LIVE: US vessel turns back after Iran strike warning
US-Iran war talks in Pakistan LIVE: The US vessel was earlier spotted near Fujairah port, has reportedly returned after Iran warned to strike it within 30 minutes if it crosses the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier Iranian armed forces observed one US destroyer sailing from near Fujairah port in the UAE toward the strait, and sent a warning to the US via the Pakistani mediators
Apr 11, 2026 7:07:46 PM IST
US-Iran war talks in Pakistan LIVE: Iranian forces warn about US destroyer near Fujairah, says report
US-Iran war talks in Pakistan LIVE: Iranian armed forces observed one US destroyer sailing from near Fujairah port in the UAE toward the strait, and sent a warning to the US via the Pakistani mediators in Islamabad that it would be targeted if it continued.
Following the warning, the vessel turned around, Bloomberg reported, citing the semi-official Fars news agency.
Apr 11, 2026 6:48:39 PM IST
US-Iran war talks in Pakistan LIVE: Trump says US is ‘clearing’ Strait of Hormuz as peace talks begin in Islamabad
US-Iran war LIVE: US President Donald Trump on Saturday posted that the United States military has started to clear the Strait of Hormuz and that all of Iran’s minelaying ships have been sunk.
“We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
Apr 11, 2026 6:36:46 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: Iranian media says talks began after ‘progress in preliminary talks’
US-Iran war LIVE: Iranian media said on Saturday that negotiations with the United States to end the Middle East war had begun in Islamabad, though the format of the talks remained unclear.
The Fars and Tasnim news agencies said “it was decided to begin negotiations” following “progress made during preliminary talks and the reduction of attacks by the Zionist regime in southern Beirut in Lebanon”, referring to Israel.
Apr 11, 2026 6:31:13 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: Pak PM meets Iran delegation
US-Iran war LIVE: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday posted on X that he met with Iranian delegation led by the Honorable Speaker of the Iranian Consultative Assembly, Mr. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf at Islamabad.
Apr 11, 2026 6:13:55 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: Iran, US, Pakistan trilateral talks begin in Islamabad
US-Iran war LIVE: Iran, US, Pakistan trilateral talks began in Islamabad on Saturday, Iranian Fars news agency reported. Earlier delegations from both sides met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Apr 11, 2026 5:54:03 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: Iranins put ‘guarded optimism’ in peace talks, hope for end to war
US-Iran war LIVE: People in Iran’s capital say they’re hopeful that a deal can be struck in peace talks that began Saturday. Iranians told the Associated Press that they kept ‘guarded optimism’ on both sides realizing that no one would gain from more war.
People said they’ve been worn down by weeks of airstrikes and warn that even if a deal is reached, the road to recovery will be long. Amir Razzai Far, 62, said a peace deal isn’t enough “because we’ve been hit very hard, there have been huge costs, and the people have to pay for that.”
Apr 11, 2026 5:41:06 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: Iran in touch with Lebanon to ensure commitment to ceasefire on all fronts
US-Iran war LIVE: Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson told state TV that Iran is in touch with Lebanon to make sure the commitments on the ceasefire are respected on all fronts.
As peace talks unfolded in Pakistan’s Islamabad, Israel continued to attack Lebanon. While Iran has maintained that the ceasefire includes Lebanon, Israel has denied the inclusion, with Israeli PM Netanyahu recently saying that the country will hold talks with Lebanon.
Apr 11, 2026 5:35:57 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: Lebanon says 10 killed in Israeli strikes on south
US-Iran war LIVE: Lebanon’s health ministry said 10 people including three emergency workers were killed by Israeli strikes on south Lebanon on Saturday, as state media reported raids on more than a dozen locations, AFP reported.
The ministry said three deadly strikes hit locations in the Nabatiyeh district, with the dead including a member of the Lebanese civil defence and two paramedics from the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Committee, decrying what it said was Israel’s “systematic” targeting of emergency workers.
Apr 11, 2026 5:23:45 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: Why Trump chose Vance to lead peace talks with Iran?
US-Iran war LIVE: US Vice President JD Vance has reportedly been “walking on eggshells” with President Donald Trump as he leads high-stakes peace talks with Iran in Pakistan on Saturday.
Before the two-week ceasefire, Vance largely stayed out of the spotlight during the US-Israeli war on Iran. Trump said Vance was “philosophically a little bit different” and “less enthusiastic” about military action, though he ultimately supported the strikes, which the president described as necessary, as per ABC News. Read more here
Apr 11, 2026 5:16:57 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: About Pakistan’s Serene hotel, nerve centre for US-Iran talks
US-Iran war LIVE: The luxury property, located in the national capital’s high-security Red Zone next to the foreign ministry, has been transformed into a tightly-controlled diplomatic zone after the government requisitioned it for the event and asked all guests to vacate, news agency AFP reported on Saturday.
The Serena Hotel, a sprawling five-star property frequently used for diplomatic engagements, has long been considered one of Islamabad’s most secure and prestigious venues.
Managed by Tourism Promotion Services Ltd and part of the global Serena Hotels chain, it has hosted international delegations and major events since its inauguration in 2002. Read more here.
Apr 11, 2026 5:07:37 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: Iranian govt spokesperson says negotiating with ‘finger on trigger’
US-Iran war LIVE: “We will negotiate with our finger on the trigger,” Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on state TV. “While we are open to talks, we are also fully aware of the lack of trust; therefore, Iran’s diplomatic team is entering this process with maximum caution.”
Iranian state TV said Tehran’s delegation had set out its red lines to Sharif, adding that these concerned the Strait of Hormuz, the release of Iran’s blocked assets, the payment of war reparations, and a ceasefire to be enforced across the region.
Apr 11, 2026 4:53:36 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: What are the points in Iran’s proposal to Pakistan
US-Iran war LIVE: According to the reports by Iran state media, Iran’s proposal to Pakistan prime minister includes Strait of Hormuz, payment of war reparations, release of Iran’s blocked assests and ceasefire across the region.
Earlier in the day Iranian delegation including foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, met with Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif.
Apr 11, 2026 4:32:42 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: Iran’s proposal forwarded to Pakistan PM
US-Iran war LIVE: Iran’s proposal for peace talks have been forwarded to Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday, Iran state media reported.
Iran’s red lines that have been forwarded includes Strait of Hormuz, payment of war reparations, the release of Iran’s blocked assests and ceasefire across the region, reports said.
Apr 11, 2026 4:25:21 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: Iranian delegation meets Pakistan PM
US-Iran war LIVE: The Iranian delegation, headed by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, met and held talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
With the first talks underway at Islamabad’s Serena Hotel, Iranian media reported that the Iranian side would decide at the end of the meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif whether to go ahead with negotiations with the Americans, Reuters reported.
Apr 11, 2026 4:20:07 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: Pak PM commends commitment of both delegations to engage ‘constructively’
US-Iran war LIVE: Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday comended the commitment of both delegations to engage “constructively.” The Prime Minister expressed the “hope that these talks would serve as a stepping stone toward durable peace in the region,” prime minister’s office said in a post on X.
“The Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan looks forward to continue its facilitation of both sides in making progress towards sustainable peace in the region.”
Apr 11, 2026 4:05:55 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: US has not agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets, says White House
US-Iran war LIVE: A US official on Saturday denied reports that Washington has agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets.
Reuters reported earlier in the day that the US had agreed to release Iranian frozen assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks, citing a senior Iranian source.
Apr 11, 2026 4:04:19 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: Pakistan PM meets US VP Vance as peace talks ‘commence’
US-Iran war LIVE: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met US Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad on Saturday, the former’s office said, adding that peace talks to end the Middle East war had “commenced”.
“As the Islamabad Talks commenced today, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with His Excellency JD Vance, Vice President of the United States of America,” the statement said.
Apr 11, 2026 3:42:28 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: What are the frozen Iran assets that prompted the first breakthrough in strained ties?
US-Iran war LIVE: The $6 billion, originally frozen in 2018, had been due for release in 2023 as part of a US-Iranian prisoner swap but the funds were again frozen by the administration of President Joe Biden following the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Iran’s ally, the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
US officials said at the time that Iran would not be able to access the money for the foreseeable future, stressing that Washington retained the right to completely freeze the account.
The funds stem from Iranian oil sales to South Korea and had been blocked in South Korean banks after President Donald Trump reimposed sanctions on Iran in 2018 – during his first term in the White House – and scrapped a deal between world powers and Tehran over its nuclear programme.
Under the September 2023 US–Iran prisoner swap mediated by Doha, the money was transferred to Qatari bank accounts. The prisoner swap involved the release of five US citizens detained in Iran in exchange for the funds’ release and the release of five Iranians held in the United States.
US officials said at that time that the money was restricted to humanitarian use only, to be disbursed to approved vendors for food, medicine, medical equipment and agricultural goods shipped into Iran under US Treasury oversight.
via Reuters
Apr 11, 2026 3:30:02 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: Iran delegation meets Pak PM, no word on talks with Iran yet
US-Iran war LIVE: Suspense continues over the status of high-level diplomatic talks between Iran and the US even as delegations from both sides have arrived in Islamabad. The Iranian delegation also met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, yet there is no update on when the talks will actually begin.
The uncertainty comes in the backdrop of both the sides indicating mistrust towards each other. Earlier, Iran set two preconditions to start negotiations with the US. One, it called for a ceasefire in Lebanon. Two, it also demanded to remove ban on Iranian assets.
Apr 11, 2026 3:25:41 PM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: Search on for missing people after Israeli strikes in Beirut
US-Iran war LIVE: Civil defense crews used cranes on Saturday to search through partially collapsed apartments, three days after Israeli strikes hit a six-story building in Beirut’s seaside neighborhood of Caracas.
The Israeli military struck some 100 sites that it said were connected to Hezbollah in the capital and other parts of Lebanon Wednesday, killing more than 300 people, including more than 100 women and children.
Civil defense officials said six people were killed in the Caracas building and a missing teenager was believed to be buried under a collapsed roof.
Najib Merhi, the owner of a snack shop on the bottom floor, said the strike came as a shock because “this is a touristic area, a safe area, an area that is shared between all the social fabric of this country.”
via AP
