US negotiators to leave Pakistan after Iran peace talks fail

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US negotiators are to leave Pakistan after failing to reach a peace agreement with Iran, US Vice President JD Vance told reporters in Islamabad moments ago.

Vance said the two sides held "substantive" discussions for 21 hours but that Iranian officials "have chosen not to accept our terms".

"We need to see an affirmative commitment they will not seek a nuclear weapon," he said.

US Vice President JD Vance is expected to give a press conference on the status of the talks in the coming few minutes.

Vance is leading the American negotiating team in its talks with Iran and Pakistan in Islamabad.

The spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry has released a statement on the ongoing talks with the US.

"Today was a busy and long day for the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Islamabad," Esmaeil Baqaei wrote on social media.

He continued: "In the past 24 hours, discussions were held on various dimensions of the main negotiation topics, including the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear issue, war reparations, lifting of sanctions, and the complete end to the war against Iran and in the region."

"The success of this diplomatic process depends on the seriousness and good faith of the opposing side, refraining from excessive demands and unlawful requests, and the acceptance of Iran's legitimate rights and interests."

The United States and Iran were set to resume top-level peace talks in Pakistan later Sunday, Iranian media reported, following marathon negotiations that lasted nearly 15 hours.

"End of 15-hour marathon talks on first day of Iran-US talks in Islamabad," Tasnim news agency reported, with another media outlet Mehr saying the next round of negotiations will be held after sunrise.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards threatened to deal "severely" with any military vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, state TV reported Sunday, after the US Central Command said two US Navy warships had transited the strategic waterway to clear mines laid by Tehran.

"Any attempt by military vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz will be dealt with severely. The IRGC Navy has full authority to manage the Strait of Hormuz intelligently," the Guards' Navy Command said, according to state broadcaster IRIB, adding passage of the strait would only be "granted to civilian vessels under specific conditions".

US President Donald Trump claimed Saturday he was not bothered about the outcome of US-Iran talks in Pakistan, insisting that the United States had come out ahead from the war.

"Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me. The reason is because we've won," Trump told reporters.

The number of people killed in the Israeli strike in the village of Tafahata in southern Lebanon earlier today has risen to 13, according to the state-run National News Agency.

The agency also reported a wave of new Israeli attacks in recent hours, including Bint Jbeil, Kfar Tebnit, Arzoun and Abbasiyeh.

Iran's military has pushed back on US claims earlier today that two warships had entered the Strait of Hormuz to conduct mine-clearing operations.

"The claim by the CENTCOM commander regarding the approach and entry of American vessels into the Strait of Hormuz is strongly denied," the spokesperson of the Iranian military’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said.

"The initiative for the passage and movement of any vessel is in the hands of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that the joint US-Israeli campaign against Iran had succeeded in "crushing" the Islamic republic's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

"We have succeeded in crushing the nuclear programme, and crushing the missile programme," Netanyahu said in a televised statement, adding that the war against Tehran had also weakened Iran's leadership and its regional allies.

Iranian media said on Saturday that the United States was making "excessive demands" on the Strait of Hormuz during talks in Pakistan to end the Middle East war.

The Fars news agency said "the US is making excessive demands regarding the Strait... the US has also made unacceptable demands on several other issues".

The Tasnim news agency also reported on Washington's demands regarding the strategic waterway.

Two US Navy warships have transited the Strait of Hormuz at the start of an operation to clear the strategic waterway of mines laid by Iran, US Central Command said Saturday.

The announcement - which marks the first such transit since the US-Israeli war with Iran began - came shortly after President Donald Trump said Washington had started "clearing out" the strait, through which a fifth of the world's crude oil passes.

"Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce," said CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper.

The USS Frank E. Peterson and the USS Michael Murphy are the guided-missile destroyers involved in the operation, but CENTCOM said that "additional US forces including underwater drones" could join the effort in coming days.

Earlier, US media outlet Axios reported that the operation was not coordinated with authorities in Tehran.

Ongoing peace talks between Iran and the US in Pakistan have reached a "stalemate" over control of the Strait of Hormuz, two people familiar with the negotiations have told the Financial Times.

Iran is reportedly insisting that it should retain control over the chokepoint and charge fees on maritime traffic, one of the people said. Its negotiating team have rejected the idea of "joint control" of the strait.

The White House said high-level in-person trilateral talks with Iran and Pakistan were "ongoing" in Islamabad late on Saturday, with negotiations aimed at ending the war in the Middle East.

A senior White House official said in a brief statement that the talks were continuing, after Iranian state media earlier reported that two rounds had taken place and a third was expected.

Lebanese authorities said on Saturday that Israeli strikes have killed 2,020 people since the start of the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah last month.

The new toll from the Lebanese health ministry includes 248 women, 165 children and 85 medical and emergency personnel killed, along with 6,436 people wounded since Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on 2 March.

Two rounds of talks have taken place between Iranian and US officials in Pakistan with a third round expected on Saturday evening or Sunday, Iranian state television reported as negotiations were underway in Islamabad.

"According to information provided to the state TV correspondent by a person close to the negotiating team, another round of negotiations will likely be held tonight or tomorrow," state broadcaster IRIB reported.

The trilateral direct negotiations were taking place with host Pakistan, a senior White House official said earlier Saturday, a departure from recent practice where both sides held talks via a mediator while seated in separate rooms.

Pope Leo on Saturday urged world leaders to end what he called the "madness of war," in an impassioned appeal as senior US and Iranian officials met in Pakistan to discuss ending the six-week conflict.

At a special prayer vigil in St. Peter's Basilica, the first US pope decried the use of religious language to justify war and said a "delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us ... is becoming increasingly unpredictable".

Making a direct appeal to world leaders, he said: "Stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, not at the table where rearmament is planned."

Leo, who is known for choosing his words carefully, has emerged as an outspoken critic of the Iran war.

On Saturday, he used forceful language to denounce conflict, citing letters from children in war zones he said described "horror and inhumanity".

The pope also referenced the Church's opposition to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, citing an appeal by the late Pope John Paul II made four days before the start of that conflict.

"Enough of the idolatry of self and money!" Leo said. "Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!"

Two US Navy warships have transited the Strait of Hormuz at the start of an operation to clear the strategic waterway of mines laid by Iran, US Central Command said Saturday.

"Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce," said Centcom commander Admiral Brad Cooper.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he had spoken with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, stressing that the ceasefire with the United States must be fully respected and should include Lebanon.

In a post on X, Macron also called on Iran to quickly restore freedom and security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that France stands ready to assist.

He reiterated France’s full support for Lebanese authorities, stating that they alone have the legitimacy to exercise state sovereignty and determine the country’s future.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, has said he is postponing a planned visit to the United Nations and the United States due to the current internal situation in the country.

The decision comes as Israeli and Lebanese officials are expected to hold talks in the US next week.

Earlier, Lebanese MP Hassan Fadlallah, who is affiliated with Hezbollah, rejected the prospect of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.

Fadlallah said such a move would be a “blatant violation” of Lebanon’s constitution and national pact, warning it could deepen internal divisions at a time when unity is needed to confront Israeli attacks and maintain civil peace.

The White House has confirmed that US Vice President JD Vance and other officials have held face-to-face talks with Iran’s delegation in Islamabad, according to Associated Press.

Agence France-Presse also reported that the US delegation in the discussions included special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, citing a senior White House official.

Three supertankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, shipping data showed, marking what appeared to be the first vessels to exit the Gulf since the US-Iran ceasefire deal and as peace talks got under way in Pakistan.

Tehran's blockade of the strait, a chokepoint for about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, since the start of the Iran war at the end of February has disrupted global energy supplies and sent oil prices soaring.

The Liberia-flagged Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Serifos and China-flagged VLCCs Cospearl Lake and He Rong Hai, entered and exited the "Hormuz Passage trial anchorage" that bypasses Iran's Larak Island on Saturday, LSEG data showed.

Each vessel is capable of carrying 2 million barrels of oil.

Serifos, carrying crude loaded from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in early March, is expected to arrive at Malaysia's Malacca port on April 21, data from LSEG and analytics firm Kpler showed.

Cospearl Lake is laden with Iraqi oil and He Rong Hai is carrying Saudi crude, the same data showed.

Both VLCCs are chartered by Unipec, the trading arm of Chinese energy giant Sinopec, the data showed.

Sinopec did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside office hours.

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 [Israeli military] 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.

On Friday, Lebanon's presidency said that a meeting would be held with Israel in Washington next week to discuss a ceasefire in Israel's offensive in Lebanon and the potential start of negotiations between the neighbours.

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.

The Saudi finance minister was in Islamabad on Saturday in a show of "economic support", a source familiar with the matter told AFP news agency, days after Pakistan said it would return billions in loans to Riyadh's ally-turned-rival the UAE.

Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan had met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a day earlier, according to the premier's office, which said Islamabad was committed to expanding cooperation "in trade, investment, and economic development".

Jadaan's visit comes as Islamabad hosts US-Iran talks aimed at ending the Middle East war, which he is not attending.

The trip was the latest sign of new alliances emerging in the Gulf amid the ongoing rift between the region's two powerhouses.

"He is there as a show of economic support for Pakistan," the source familiar with the matter said.

Cash-strapped Pakistan recently said it would return more than $3 billion in loans to the UAE that Abu Dhabi had been rolling over since 2018.

Islamabad is dependent on IMF bailouts and loans from friendly countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE to service its huge debt, which swallows up half of its annual revenues.

Most people in Iran have been cut off from the internet for more than 1,000 hours, according to NetBlocks.

The group, which tracks global internet disruptions, said the outage is the longest nationwide shutdown ever recorded.

Since the war began on 28 February, the majority of Iranians have been limited to a restricted domestic intranet featuring only state-approved content.

Meanwhile, parts of the military and senior authorities are believed to retain unrestricted internet access.

Israeli air strikes on several towns in southern Lebanon have killed at least 10 people and injured others, according to National News Agency.

An attack on Kfar Sir in the Nabatieh district killed four people, including a paramedic, and wounded four others.

A separate strike on Zefta killed three people, including a member of the Lebanese Civil Defence, and injured two.

Another attack on Toul left three people dead and three others wounded.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that he had discussed the Iran ceasefire talks and the situation in Ukraine with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

"We initially discussed the situation in the Middle East, and called for all parties to respect the ceasefire and to make sure this applies to Lebanon, and for all parties to respect the freedom of navigation in the Straits of Hormuz, and we highlighted the importance of getting a strong and lasting diplomatic solution," wrote Macron on X.

US Vice President JD Vance is holding talks with Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, the White House has said. He is joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, along with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, were also present.

Earlier, Sharif welcomed Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

According to a statement from the prime minister’s office, Sharif expressed hope that the talks would act as “a stepping stone towards durable peace in the region” and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating dialogue between both sides.

Further details of the discussions have not been disclosed.

Fars News Agency, citing an informed government source, reports that Tehran has warned against any attempt to portray Israel as solely responsible if negotiations fail.

Despite progress in talks mediated by Pakistan, Iranian officials argue that framing Israel as an independent “disruptive party” allows the United States to evade responsibility.

Tehran rejects what it describes as a double standard, insisting that Israel’s actions are closely tied to decisions made in Washington and that the US would bear responsibility for any breakdown in negotiations.

Al Jazeera English has reported that an unnamed US official has denied reports that Washington has agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets.

The report comes after Reuters news agency stated that the United States had approved the release of Iranian funds held in Qatar and other foreign banks, citing a senior Iranian source.

Iranian state television reported that a delegation led by Mohammad Bager Ghalibaf, alongside Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, met with Pakistan’s parliamentary speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, in Islamabad to discuss the course of negotiations and wider regional developments.

According to the report, US officials have signalled agreement in principle to release frozen Iranian assets, though further details on the implementation mechanism are still awaited.

During the meetings, Tehran stressed that the United States holds influence over Israeli actions, arguing that any “real and tangible ceasefire” must be reflected through clear steps by Washington.

The report added that Pakistan is acting as a mediator, helping to shape the framework and mechanisms of negotiations between Iran and the United States.

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah on Saturday reiterated his Iran-backed group's rejection of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, a day after Lebanon's president said such talks would take place next week in Washington.

The move is "a blatant violation of the (national) pact, the constitution and Lebanese laws... and it exacerbates domestic divisions at a time when Lebanon most needs solidarity and internal unity to face Israel's aggression", Fadlallah said in a statement.

An Iranian delegation, led by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and accompanied by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has met Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, in Islamabad.

Further details of the discussions have yet to be disclosed.

An airstrike hit a police checkpoint in Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip early on Saturday, killing at least six people and injuring several others, medics said.

It was not immediately clear whether all those killed were police members. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

A series of Israeli strikes has killed dozens of police force members since October, according to medics and police sources.

Israel and Hamas reached a US-brokered deal last October that was meant to halt violence in the Palestinian territory. Both sides accuse each other of breaching the agreement.

Israeli fire has killed at least 700 Palestinians since the deal was struck

Iran’s negotiating delegation is due to meet Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, in Islamabad, according to reports from Tasnim News Agency.

The meeting comes as high-stakes talks between Iran and the US begin following a fragile ceasefire.

The Iranian delegation, led by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, had earlier held discussions with Pakistan’s army chief and foreign minister upon arrival, Tasnim reported.

Pakistan is playing a central mediating role in the negotiations.

When US and Iranian diplomats meet in Islamabad later today, it will mark the highest-level talks between Tehran and Washington since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The meeting will also be the first official face-to-face negotiations since 2015, when both sides agreed a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018 during his first term as US president.

That same year, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, banned further direct negotiations. Khamenei was killed in a US–Israeli strike at the start of the war.

Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is still recovering from severe facial and leg injuries suffered in the airstrike that killed his father at the beginning of the war, three people close to his inner circle told news agency Reuters.

Khamenei's face was disfigured in the attack on the supreme leader's compound in central Tehran and he suffered a significant injury to one or both legs, all three sources said.

The 56-year-old is nonetheless recovering from his wounds and remains mentally sharp, according to the people, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. He is taking part in meetings with senior officials via audio conferencing and is engaged in decision-making on major issues including the war and negotiations with Washington, two of them said.

The question of whether Khamenei's health allows him to run state affairs comes during Iran's moment of gravest peril for decades, with high-stakes peace talks with the United States opening in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Saturday.

The accounts of the people close to Khamenei's inner circle provide the most detailed description of the leader's condition for weeks. 

Pakistan's foreign minister on Saturday called for the United States and Iran to "engage constructively" at talks in Islamabad aimed at ending the Middle East war, after both delegations arrived in the Pakistani capital.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar "expressed the hope that parties would engage constructively, and reiterated Pakistan's desire to continue facilitating the parties towards reaching lasting and durable solution to the conflict", said a foreign ministry statement.