Islamabad — Vice President JD Vance arrived in Islamabad after a long flight to lead U.S.-Iran peace talks on the fifth day of a temporary ceasefire in the conflict now entering its sixth week. He was greeted at PAF Air Base Nur Khan by Pakistani officials including field marshal Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Pakistan has mounted heavy security around the hotel hosting the negotiations and has branded the effort “The Islamabad Talks” on digital billboards across the capital.
A high-level Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also reached Islamabad. Ghalibaf said Iran came with “good intentions but we do not trust,” reiterating Tehran’s preconditions: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the unfreezing of Iranian assets before talks proceed. Iran’s delegation said those measures must be implemented first; Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps meanwhile denied carrying out any launches during ceasefire hours and warned that unreported attacks would likely be the work of Israel or the United States.
The temporary truce has reduced but not halted regional violence. Kuwait accused Iran and its proxies of drone attacks during the ceasefire period; Iran denied the allegations. Hezbollah continued strikes on Israel, claiming dozens of attacks, while Israel said it is still fighting in Lebanon “with great intensity.” Israel’s military said strikes two days earlier killed more than 180 Hezbollah fighters, while Lebanon’s health ministry reported a rising civilian death toll and hundreds more wounded from recent Israeli strikes.
Strait of Hormuz traffic remains well below normal despite the ceasefire. Marine Traffic data show only about a dozen ships transited the strait in the first two days after the truce began — a small fraction of the roughly 129 vessels that typically passed daily in February. The White House’s National Economic Council director said shipping is proceeding at roughly 10% of normal pace. Reports that Iran may charge a toll for passage under any long-term deal have raised concerns about fresh economic and geopolitical risks to global energy markets.
The war and disruptions at key chokepoints have contributed to higher energy prices and broader economic effects. Brent crude has swung widely since the fight began, and U.S. inflation jumped in March to a 3.3% annual rate, driven in part by the global energy shock. Markets wavered ahead of the talks: the S&P 500 dipped modestly while oil prices held steady. The White House sought to reassure markets that clearing the strait would help lower prices.
Washington has also signaled readiness for force if diplomacy fails. President Trump posted on social media that U.S. warships are being “reloaded with the best ammunition” and has warned Iran that if talks collapse, military options remain on the table. He also said the Iranians’ only leverage is short-term disruption of international waterways. The administration said it would restock naval munitions to continue strikes if necessary.
Diplomatic moves continue beyond Islamabad. Lebanon’s presidency said representatives from Lebanon and Israel will meet in Washington next week to discuss declaring a ceasefire and launching negotiations, a rare three-way U.S.-facilitated effort to address the Lebanon front. South Korea is sending a special envoy to Iran to press for prompt, safe resumption of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz; about 70% of South Korea’s crude imports transit that route. Pakistan and France have raised concerns about “serious ceasefire violations” in Lebanon.
Other regional developments: TotalEnergies said a major Saudi refinery was taken offline after damage from recent attacks; Saudi officials reported damage to an east-west pipeline that routes oil to the Red Sea. Ukraine’s president said Ukrainian forces helped down Iranian-designed Shahed drones in several Middle Eastern countries before the ceasefire, describing the operations as part of broader air-defense cooperation.
Domestic and global reactions varied. Former Vice President Kamala Harris called the conflict a “war of choice.” Pope Leo XIV condemned the war’s violence, saying “God does not bless any conflict.” U.S. political leaders and commentators continued to debate strategy. At home, an Iowa farmer told CBS News diesel costs for farm equipment have more than doubled since December, highlighting inflation’s local impacts.
Iran’s internet blackout persisted: digital monitor Netblocks reported Iran’s restriction of global internet access has lasted more than 1,000 hours, though the domestic intranet continues to support local services. Social media posts from officials on all sides have played a role in communicating positions and claims.
As talks begin in Islamabad, delegations face significant hurdles: trust deficits, competing preconditions, and ongoing hostilities in Lebanon and elsewhere that could scuttle negotiations. Pakistan is pressing to mediate a diplomatic pathway while the U.S. seeks concrete steps to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and reduce economic disruption. Observers say success will depend on whether Tehran accepts preconditions and whether the ceasefire can hold long enough to translate into enforceable arrangements.