Overview
- Restrictions around the Serena Hotel and Islamabad’s Red Zone were lifted Monday, restoring normal traffic and access after a week of tight controls.
- Officials said the expected second round of U.S.–Iran talks did not happen, and Pakistan will keep relaying messages with no date set for in-person talks.
- The Serena Hotel, which had been cleared of guests for earlier talks, reopened to customers, easing a disruption that frustrated residents and workers in the area.
- Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi met Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership in Islamabad over the weekend and then departed for Moscow after a stop in Oman.
- The United States did not send envoys, and President Donald Trump urged Iran to call or come to the U.S., as talks remain stuck over the Strait of Hormuz blockade, nuclear limits, and ceasefire terms linked to Lebanon, a standoff that risks further strain on regional security and energy trade.