US Vice President JD Vance landed in Pakistan on Saturday to hold high-stakes talks with Iranian representatives aimed at reaching a permanent peace agreement to end the war in West Asia that has crippled global energy supplies and caused widespread economic disruptions.
Vance, accompanied by several top American officials including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, arrived in Islamabad hours after an Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reached the Pakistani capital. The US vice president was received at the Nur Khan airbase by Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
Key updates and developments:
– Iran struggles to reopen Strait of Hormuz after mining
April 11, 2026 1:57 pm
Iran faces a growing challenge in reopening the Strait of Hormuz as it struggles to locate and remove naval mines it deployed during last month’s conflict, US officials told The New York Times.
– Video: US delegation arrival in Islamabad
April 11, 2026 12:56 pm
Pakistan’s Foreign Office shared footage of the US delegation’s arrival in Islamabad.
– Pakistan sets up media centre for talks
April 11, 2026 12:48 pm
Islamabad established a state-of-the-art media centre at the Jinnah Convention Centre with high-speed internet, free services and shuttle transport for journalists covering US-Iran talks.
– Fresh strikes in Lebanon kill three
April 11, 2026 12:47 pm
Multiple Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon early Saturday killed at least three people, the Lebanese National News Agency reported.
– Pakistan hopes for constructive engagement
April 11, 2026 12:31 pm
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan hopes the US and Iran will engage constructively and reiterated Islamabad’s desire to facilitate a lasting solution to the conflict.
– Iranian delegation to meet Pakistan PM
April 11, 2026 11:09 am
Iran’s negotiating team met Pakistan’s army chief the previous night. A meeting between the Iranian delegation and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was scheduled for 1 pm.
– Report on Mojtaba Khamenei’s injuries
April 11, 2026 11:09 am
Reuters sources said Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is recovering from severe facial and leg injuries suffered in the airstrike that killed his father at the start of the war. Sources said he remains mentally sharp, participating in meetings via audio conferencing.
– US, Iran to hold key peace talks in Islamabad
April 11, 2026 10:54 am
The US delegation led by Vance arrived for the first high-level meeting since the war began over a month ago. Talks aim to shore up a fragile ceasefire and pave the way for peace but face hurdles: clashes between Israel and Hezbollah persist along the Lebanon border, and Iran has set preconditions.
– Iranian delegation welcomed by Pakistani officials
April 11, 2026 10:48 am
The Iranian team, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, was welcomed by COAS Asim Munir and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
– Iran’s negotiating demands include control of Hormuz, compensation
April 11, 2026 10:31 am
Tehran seeks major concessions, including the end of sanctions, recognition of authority over the Strait of Hormuz with transit fees and control of access, and compensation for war damage. Iran’s ships were reported sailing through the strait while others remained blocked.
– Iran demands ceasefire in Lebanon and sanctions relief before talks
April 11, 2026 10:31 am
Tehran stated talks could not begin without commitments on Lebanon and sanctions relief. Iran insists the Lebanon front be part of any ceasefire; the US and Israel have said Lebanon is not part of the Iran-US ceasefire framework.
– China preparing weapons shipment to Iran: report
April 11, 2026 9:45 am
CNN, citing US intelligence sources, reported Beijing is preparing to deliver new air-defence systems and possibly MANPADs to Iran, potentially routed through third countries to mask origin.
– Fighting continues in Lebanon despite ceasefire
April 11, 2026 8:22 am
Israeli attacks continued across southern Lebanon. Israeli and Lebanese officials said their envoys would meet in Washington to discuss ceasefire and negotiations, but accounts differed over the scope of those talks.
– Iran has ‘no cards’, says Trump
April 11, 2026 8:20 am
Qalibaf said Washington had previously agreed to unblock Iranian assets and to a ceasefire in Lebanon and that talks would not start until pledges were fulfilled. He said Iran was ready to reach a deal if Washington granted what he called Iran’s rights. US President Donald Trump earlier commented that “we’ll find out what’s going on. They’re militarily defeated.”
Context and significance:
The Islamabad talks mark a pivotal effort to stabilize the region and reopen vital trade routes and energy flows disrupted by weeks of hostilities. Pakistan’s role as host and mediator underscores its strategic importance; security measures left Islamabad largely deserted as authorities sealed roads and urged residents to stay indoors. The negotiations face major sticking points: Iran’s demands over Lebanon, sanctions relief, and influence in the Strait of Hormuz; Israel’s separate military operations; and wider geopolitical dynamics involving China and regional proxies. Outcomes of the talks could have immediate global economic implications, particularly for energy markets, and long-term consequences for regional power balances.
