According to the White House press pool, JD Vance boarded the Air Force Two aircraft at 7.08am local time, and is about to depart from Pakistan.

Photos showed him waving and giving a thumbs-up from the top of the stairs.

Associated Press notes that JD Vance’s entire remarks last just over three minutes – and that the US vice-president only took three questions from reporters before walking away.

You can read more of the latest updates from the talks here:

US delegation was ‘consistently’ talking to Trump throughout negotiations, Vance says

“Obviously we were talking to the president consistently,” the vice-president tells reporters: … “half dozen times, a dozen times over the past 21 hours”.

We obviously also talked to Admiral [Brad] Cooper [head of the US central command], to Pete [Hegseth, defense secretary], to Marco [Rubio, US secretary of state], to the entire national security team. We talked to [treasury secretary] Scott Bessent a number of times, so look, we were constantly in communication with the team, because we were negotiating in good faith …

We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We’ll see if the Iranians accept it.

Vance claims US delegation was ‘quite flexible, quite accomodating’ but Iran would not accept terms

Another reporter asks if the discussion produced any kind of framework, and if the issue of Iranian frozen assets had been raised.

“Certainly those things came up,” Vance replies.

But again, we just could not get to a situation where the Iranians were willing to accept our terms.

I think that we were quite flexible. We were quite accommodating.

The president told us, you need to come here in good faith and make your best effort to get a deal. We did that and unfortunately we weren’t able to make any headway.

Vance is asked by a CNN reporter which of the US’s terms Iran has not accepted.

Well, I won’t go into all the details because I don’t want to negotiate in public after we’ve negotiated for 21 hours in private.

But the simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon.

That is the core goal of the President of the United States, and that’s what we’ve tried to achieve through these negotiations.

Again, their nuclear program, such as it is – the enrichment facilities that they had before – they’ve been destroyed.

But the simple question is, do we see a fundamental commitment of will for the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon, not just now, not just two years from now, but for the long-term?

We haven’t seen that yet. We hope that we will.

More from JD Vance who says the US and Iran have not come to any deal:

We go back to the United States having not come to an agreement.

We’ve made very clear what our red lines are, what things we’re willing to accommodate them on and what things we’re not willing to accommodate them on.

And we’ve made clear as we possibly could.

And they have chosen not to accept our terms.

US-Iran talks hinge on refraining from ‘excessive demands’: Iran foreign ministry

The success of this weekend’s peace talks depends on Washington avoiding “excessive demands” and “unlawful requests,” the Iranian foreign ministry’s spokesperson said early today, reported by AFP.

“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,” Esmaeil Baqaei wrote on X.

He added that the two sides had discussed a range of issues including the strategic “Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear issue, war reparations, the lifting of sanctions, and the complete end of the war against Iran.”

Two Pakistani officials have told Associated Press that discussions between the heads of the US and Iran delegations will resume following a break, after the historic face-to-face negotiations reportedly paused before dawn.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the press, said some technical personnel from both teams are still meeting – as the Iranian government said earlier.

A Pakistani official has told the Agence France-Presse news agency that talks are “progressing in the right direction”.

“I can say that discussions are moving positively and the overall atmosphere is cordial,” they said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

‘Mood swings from the two sides’ in first round of talks

In a post on X, Iran’s government said that after 14 hours, the talks had concluded and technical experts from both sides would exchange documents.

“Negotiations will continue despite some remaining differences,” the post added, though it did not say when they would restart. An Iranian state TV reporter said the talks would continue on Sunday, according to Reuters.

The Trump administration has not yet commented on whether the negotiations had concluded and what, if any, differences remain. Asked about the progress of the talks, a senior White House offical earlier told media: “15 hours and counting!”

“There were mood swings from the two sides and the temperature went up and down during the meeting,” a Pakistani source told Reuters in reference to the first round of talks.

Qatar has announced the full resumption of all maritime navigation activities beginning on Sunday. The Ministry of Transport confirmed that “all categories of marine vessels and transport modes” will be permitted to operate between the hours of 6am and 6pm.

In an official statement, the ministry emphasized that all maritime operators must strictly adhere to safety protocols, including the continuous operation of tracking and communication systems.

It was not immediately clear whether the announcement meant that Qatari vessels would be allowed to transit the strait of Hormuz, which remained effectively closed as of Saturday.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned that any attempt by military vessels to transit the strait of Hormuz would be met with “a strong response”, saying only non-military vessels would be allowed to pass under specific regulations, the IRGC said in a statement carried by Iranian media.

It is now in the early hours of Sunday morning in Islamabad, around 3am local time, and negotiations are still reportedly ongoing.

A US delegation led by JD Vance and an Iranian delegation led by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf first met with Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif before rounds of direct talks Saturday.

The meeting marks the highest-level direct engagement between Washington and Tehran in decades, aiming to secure a peace agreement to end the weeks-long war that has caused thousands of deaths and disrupted the global economy, particularly through Iran’s closure of the strait.

A new round of talks between Iranian and US delegations has begun in Islamabad following a break, with Pakistani officials acting as mediators, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, citing its correspondent.

“Considering the US’s excessive demands, it seems that this is the Iranian team’s last chance to reach a common framework in this round of talks,” the agency said.

The Gulf region has experienced a significant lull in hostilities, with no strikes reported on Saturday as high-stakes, face-to-face negotiations between the US and Iran continued in Islamabad.

This relative calm marks the first weekend of a formal two-week ceasefire that went into effect last Tuesday. The pause in combat was brokered to allow diplomatic delegations, including US vice-president JD Vance and Iranian officials, the opportunity to negotiate a potential end to the war involving the US, Israel and Iran, which has gripped the region since 28 February.

A spokesperson for Iran’s joint military command has denied an earlier claim by the US military that two navy destroyers transited the waterway, saying that “initiative over the passage of any vessel rests with the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran”, according to Iran’s state media.

The strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage through which 20% of all oil and natural gas trade once passed, is already reported to be one of the main points of “serious disagreement” during negotiations between the US and Iran, now taking place in Islamabad.

In his strongest words yet, Pope Leo XIV on Saturday denounced the “delusion of omnipotence” that he says is fueling the US-Israel war in Iran and demanded political leaders stop and negotiate peace.

Leo presided over an evening prayer service in St Peter’s Basilica on the same day the US and Iran began face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan.

The first US-born pope didn’t mention the US or Trump by name in his prayer, which was planned before the talks were announced. But Leo’s tone and message appeared directed at Trump and US officials, who have boasted of US military superiority and justified the war in religious terms.

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

“Stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, not at the table where rearmament is planned,” he added.

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

The strait of Hormuz remains among the main points of “serious disagreement” in talks between Iranian and US delegations in Islamabad, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday. It added that consultations were continuing despite what it described as excessive US demands, while Iran insisted on preserving its military gains.

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.

The US military says it “began setting conditions for clearing mines in the strait of Hormuz” in an update released on Saturday afternoon.

“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 Adm Brad Cooper, commander of Centcom, in the statement.

Navy destroyers USS Frank E Petersen and USS Michael Murphy have transited the strait of Hormuz into the Arabian Gulf, marking the start of a mission to clear the waterway of sea mines laid by the IRGC, according to the statement.

The operation aims to restore passage to the world’s most vital energy corridor, which has been effectively blocked for over six weeks, causing a global surge in oil prices and historic supply disruptions.

Collateral damage is a universally acknowledged hazard of war – more commonly known for its impact on truth and non-combatant civilians.

Its consequences are much less frequently visited on military alliances.

The United States’ North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) allies are fearful that may be about to change as a result of the fallout from Washington’s decision to team up with Israel in waging war against Iran.

Donald Trump has attacked the pact with a vehemence rarely heard over what he regards as disloyalty and failure to help in re-opening the strait of Hormuz. Tehran closed the strategic waterway in response to the military onslaught it faced in the conflict, which is currently paused thanks to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan.

Read more:

Donald Trump has launched another in a series of attacks on media coverage of the Iran war in a Truth Social post today, claiming that the US has “completely destroyed” Iran’s military and “everything else” at the same time the US vice-president is in Pakistan undergoing negotiations with Iran. The US president also claims that the strait of Hormuz will “soon be open”.

“The Fake News Media is CRAZY, or just plain CORRUPT! The United States has completely destroyed Iran’s Military, including their entire Navy and Air Force, and everything else,” Trump wrote. “Their Leadership is DEAD! The Strait of Hormuz will soon be open, and the empty ships are rushing to the United States to “load up.” But, if you listen to the Fake News, we’re losing!”

Trump did not specify which outlets he was referring to as “fake news” for their coverage of the war on Iran.

Here are a few photos of the ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran in Pakistan.

A Pakistani official has confirmed to the Associated Press that negotiations have officially begun between the US and Iran in Pakistan. The official told the AP that they “cannot say whether they are sitting in the same room or in separate rooms, but talks have started and are progressing well”.

The three-way talks are between US officials JD Vance, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Iran’s Mohammad Ghalibaf and Abbas Araghchi, and Pakistan army chief Asim Munir.

In Gaza, which marked six months since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on Friday, Palestinian health officials said at least seven people have been killed in two Israeli airstrikes overnight.

An airstrike hit a police checkpoint in the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip early this morning, killing at least six, while a second airstrike hit the northern town of Beit Lahia, killing at least one, officials said.

The Israeli military said the strike in Bureij had been carried out after members of Hamas approached the yellow line demarcating the half of Gaza occupied by Israel, according to Reuters news agency. It did not immediately comment on the strike in Beit Lahia.

Israel has repeatedly shot at people in areas around the yellow line since the ceasefire deal was struck in October, often accusing militants of trying to cross the line or attack troops.

Since October, Israeli attacks have killed at least 700 people in Gaza, according to health officials there.

Iranian media has denied reports that US warships have crossed the strait of Hormuz.

The denial in the semi-official Tasnim news agency follows a report by the US news site Axios, citing a US official, that several US navy ships crossed the narrow waterway today.

There are conflicting reports over what’s happened. Tasnim, quoting an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, reported that a US destroyer attempted to enter the strait but was forced to retreat after a warning from Iran’s armed forces. Axios, citing a US official, said no such warning was given.

Earlier today, Donald Trump claimed the US has started to clear mines in the strait of Hormuz.

Just days before negotiations are expected to take place in Washington between Israel and Beirut, the Israeli military said it has struck more than 200 targets in Lebanon in the past 24 hours, claiming they belong to the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

“The air force continues to strike infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organisation and to support the operations of ground forces operating in southern Lebanon,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement on social media.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it is investigating an incident where rockets launched from Lebanon landed in northern Israel yesterday without warning sirens being activated.

“A preliminary investigation suggests that the launches were not detected, which is why no warning was issued in the town,” the IDF said in a statement on X, adding that the “circumstances of the incident, including the failure to detect the launches, are currently being investigated by all relevant authorities”.

French president Emmanuel Macron has said he discussed the Iran ceasefire talks with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, and that the two leaders had agreed to stay in close contact on the issue.

I reiterated my support for the ceasefire, which must be fully respected and extended without delay to Lebanon. We discussed the need to restore fully free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as quickly as possible.

As talks get underway in Islamabad, we agreed to remain in close contact in order to contribute to a de-escalation, freedom of navigation, and the conclusion of an agreement to ensure lasting peace and security in the region.

In Lebanon, a funeral is being held for 13 security personnel who were killed by Israeli airstrikes near a government complex and a State Security office in Nabatieh.

Lebanon’s health ministry said 10 people, including three emergency workers, were killed by Israeli strikes on south Lebanon today, as state media reported raids on more than a dozen locations, according to AFP news agency.

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.

Earlier today, Iran’s first vice-president, Mohammad Reza Aref, warned that if Israeli interests are prioritised in today’s talks in Islamabad “there will be no deal” and “the world will face greater costs”.

In a statement on social media, he said:

If we negotiate in Islamabad with representatives of ‘America First,’ an agreement beneficial to both sides and the world is probable. However, if we face representatives of ‘Israel First,’ there will be no deal; we will inevitably continue our defense even more vigorously than before, and the world will face greater costs.

The Pakistan prime minister’s office has issued a photo of Shehbaz Sharif shaking hands with US vice-president JD Vance during their meeting in Islamabad.

Iranian media reported that Tehran’s delegation had met with Sharif on the sidelines of the talks earlier today.

We still do not know the schedule or timing of the talks. The only statement we have so far is from Sharif’s office, which revealed very little.

“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.

“The Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan looks forward to continue its facilitation of both sides in making progress towards sustainable peace in the region.”

In other news, Saudi Arabia said Pakistani forces have arrived at its King Abdulaziz airbase as part of a defence deal between the two countries.

In a statement, the Saudi foreign ministry said:

The Pakistani force consists of fighter and support aircraft … with the aim of enhancing joint military coordination, raising the level of operational readiness between the armed forces of the two countries, and supporting security and stability at both regional and international levels.

The mutual defence pact was signed in September and defines any attack on either nation as an attack on both. The King Abdulaziz airbase had come under repeated drone and missile attacks during the war, Associated Press reported.

Israeli attacks continued in southern Lebanon, the country’s National News Agency (NNA) reported, while Hezbollah said its fighters targeted Israeli positions in Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel with drones and missiles.

Three people were killed this morning when an Israeli airstrike hit and destroyed a residential building in the town of Maifadoun in the southern Lebanese province of Nabatiyeh, according to NNA.

Lebanon’s health ministry said the death toll from Israeli strikes across the country on Wednesday had risen from 303 to 357, with 1,223 people wounded.

Reuters has issued a news alert saying a US official has denied its earlier report that Washington agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets (see post at 10:28).

While we await more news on the talks in Islamabad, a Hezbollah MP, Hassan Fadlallah, has reiterated the group’s objection to any potential negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.

Both the Israeli and Lebanese governments have signalled willingness to hold talks, which could begin in Washington next week, but Fadlallah said the move is “a blatant violation of the (national) charter, the constitution and Lebanese laws”, according to a statement carried by the Hezbollah-owned al-Manar TV.

He added: “It exacerbates domestic divisions at a time when Lebanon most needs solidarity and internal unity to face Israel’s aggression.”

Israel has ruled out any discussion involving Hezbollah.

The US had agreed to release Iranian frozen assets that were held in Qatar and other foreign banks, according to Reuters news agency, citing a senior Iranian source.

The source, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, welcomed the move as a sign of “seriousness” in reaching a deal with the US in talks in Islamabad.

The US has not made any public comments on the matter.

The source told Reuters that unfreezing the assets was “directly linked to ensuring safe passage through strait of Hormuz”, which is expected to be a key issue in the talks.

Al Jazeera spotted the Pakistani army chief, Asim Munir, wore a suit to greet the US vice-president today in Islamabad, but wore a military uniform to receive the Iranian delegation last night.

The news organisation spoke to a former general who served under Pakistan’s last military ruler Pervez Musharraf about the wardrobe change.

The general said there is no protocol on what an army chief wears on such occasions, adding: “Usually, their staff suggests what they should wear, or other times it is the desire of the chief himself, what influence he wants to project.

“Under the Musharraf era, when I was in service, he would meet delegations sometimes in uniform and other times in a suit.”

Elsewhere, South Korea’s president, Lee Jae Myung, has accused Israel of failing to “reflect” on rights abuse allegations after the Israeli foreign ministry criticised him over sharing a social media video which purported to show Israeli soldiers torturing and pushing an apparently dead Palestinian off a roof, AFP reports.

Lee reshared the video, saying “I need to look into whether this is true, and if so, what measures have been taken”.

A social media statement by the Israeli foreign ministry said the Korean president “for some strange reason, chose to dig up a story from 2024 and to cite a fake account that falsely presented it as a current event”.

South Korea’s foreign ministry attempted to defuse the tensions, saying Lee’s post – which drew parallels between alleged Israeli abuses and historical atrocities against Jews and Koreans – was a call for “universal human rights,” rather than an opinion on any specific issue.

But in a news article detailing Israeli backlashes against his remarks, Lee commented: “It’s disappointing that you don’t even once reflect on the criticisms from people around the world who are suffering and struggling due to relentless anti-human rights and anti-international law actions.”

South Korea has generally maintained a balanced stance on strife in the Middle East, welcoming a ceasefire earlier this week.

Photos: US vice-president JD Vance arrives in Islamabad for Iran talks

Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is still recovering from severe facial and leg injuries, sources have told Reuters, but remains mentally sharp and is engaged in decision-making on major issues, including ceasefire negotiations with Washington.

Khamenei, 56, has not been seen in public and has not appeared in videos or photographs since the US-Israeli air attack in the opening days of the war which killed his father, the previous supreme ruler Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had ruled since 1989. Mojtaba was subsequently chosen as supreme ruler days after the strikes.

All three sources told Reuters that Khamenei’s face was disfigured and he had injured one or both legs in the attack which killed his father and members of his family, including his wife, his brother-in-law and his sister-in-law. Reuters was unable to independently verify the description given by the sources.

There has been no official Iranian statement on the extent of any injuries, though a newsreader on state television described him as “janbaz” – a term used for those badly wounded in war – shortly after he was named supreme leader.

US accounts, including that of the secretary of defence, Pete Hegseth, and a source familiar with intelligence assessments, agree that Khamenei was “wounded and likely disfigured” and had possibly lost a leg. The CIA declined to comment.

Experts say that Khamenei is seen as likely to continue his father’s hardline views, especially given his extensive links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a powerful political and military force within Iran.

How did Pakistan emerge as a key mediator between the US and Iran? In this video, the Guardian’s south Asia correspondent, Hannah Ellis-Petersen, explains how the south Asian country secured what has been called its ‘biggest diplomatic win’ in years:

In an address to the nation before the talks, Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said the upcoming US-Iran talks in Islamabad were “make or break,” warning the next phase will determine whether a lasting ceasefire can be secured.

An Iranian delegation led by speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf landed in Islamabad on Friday night, with Pakistani jets escorting the Iranian planes as they entered the country’s airspace. Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, received the Iranian delegation led by Ghalibaf.

Ghalibaf said in a statement after reaching Islamabad: “Iran has come in good faith, but doesn’t trust the US. Iran is ready for an agreement if the US presents a genuine deal and recognises Iran’s rights.”

A statement by the foreign minister, Dar, expressed hope for constructive talks. Dar said Pakistan would continue to facilitate sustainable and long-lasting solution between the parties. He said he hoped the both parties would engage in constructive talks.

Here’s the full list of members of the Iranian delegation.

• Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the head of the delegation and the Iranian parliamentary speaker;

• Seyed Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister;

• Reza Amiri Moghadam, the ambassador to Pakistan;

• Ali Akbar Ahmadian, a member of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran;

• Ali Bagheri Kani, the deputy to the Supreme National Security Council and former acting foreign minister;

• Esmael Ahmadi Moghadam, the president of the National Defense university;

• Mohammad Jafari, the assistant to the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council;

• Naser Hemati, the governor of Iran’s central bank;

• Kazim Gharibabadi, a deputy foreign minister;

• Majid Takht e Ravanchi, a deputy foreign minister;

• Valiollah Nouri, a deputy foreign minister;

• Esmail Baghaei, a deputy foreign minister and spokesperson for the Iranian ministry of foreign affairs;

• Abolfazl Amouei, an Iranian MP;

• and Mohammad Nabavian, an Iranian MP.

As we wait for the Islamabad talks to commence, the conflict in the Middle East continues as we see in these images from the last 24 hours.

The UK will host a strait of Hormuz meeting next week, bringing together multiple countries aiming to restore free movement of ships through the strait, which has been blockaded by Iran since the beginning of the war and inflicted heavy damage on the global economy.

A British official told AP that the meeting will oppose the idea of tolls being charged for passage through the waterway, as proposed by Iran as part of ceasefire negotiations.

The meeting follows a foreign minister’s call on 2 April involving about 40 countries and a military planning meeting attended by about 30 nations. The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, said that it is essential to have a “viable plan” to reopen the strait and get the global economy moving.

The Athens-based Marine Traffic said on Friday that only 14 vessels – only half of which were loaded – have crossed the strait of Hormuz since a ceasefire was declared, according to AP.

Vessels exiting the Gulf accounted for 70% of vessels, the group posted on X, with “sanctioned or shadow-fleet-linked vessels account[ing] for nearly two-thirds of all crossings”.

Before the conflict, over 100 ships passed through the strait each day – most with oil outbound to Asia.

Lebanon’s health ministry say the provisional death toll from Israeli strikes on Wednesday had risen from 303 to 357, with 1,223 people wounded, AFP reports, with Israel claiming to have killed 180 militants in those attacks. The Israeli military say Hezbollah had fired around 30 projectiles into Israel and claims to have “dismantled” more than 4,300 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon since fighting began.

Digital monitor Netblocks says Iran’s internet blackout has lasted over a thousand hours, AFP reports.

While Iran’s domestic intranet remains operational, access to the global internet has been restricted since February.

“It is the Israeli public that holds Netanyahu’s fate in its hands,” writes Jonathan Freedland, writing on the role of the Israeli PM in the current Middle East tensions.

“What record will he be able to present to that domestic electorate, the one that judges him by his own lights? … Netanyahu-ism has gained nothing, and it has come at a monstrously high price.”

Read more of his analysis below:

In Islamabad, mutual mistrust remained the order of the day, Agence France-Presse reports.

“We have good intentions but we do not trust,” Iranian state TV quoted the head of the Iranian delegation, parliamentary speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, as saying upon his arrival. “ Our experience in negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and broken promises”.

JD Vance, the US vice-president and head of their delegation, was equally wary. “If [the Iranians are] going to try and play us, they’re going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive,” he told reporters.

Donald Trump has said his top priority is to ensure the Islamic republic cannot have a nuclear weapon – “That’s 99% of it” – but stopping the continuing Israeli strikes on Lebanon, a key demand from Iran as a condition of the truce, as well as the precise terms for allowing shipping traffic through the blockaded strait of Hormuz will also play a key part.

The Iranian side say negotiations cannot begin without commitments on Lebanon and on unblocking Iranian assets seized as part of sanctions. Israel and the US’s position is that that Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire.

Trump, posting on social media, said “The Iranians don’t seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. They only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!”

Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif says making progress will be hard work. “This is the stage which, in English, is called the equivalent of ‘make or break’,” he said.

In Islamabad, all routes leading to the Serena hotel, which is hosting the talks, were blocked off with heavy security, with banners and signs along the expressway heralding the “Islamabad Talks”. But in Tehran, a 30-year-old local told AFP he was skeptical negotiations would be successful, describing most of what Trump says as “pure noise and nonsense”.

Islamabad continues to prepare for the upcoming ceasefire talks and the arrivals of delegates in Pakistan’s capital. Here are some new images coming into the newsroom today.