Overview
- The U.S. delegation led by Vice President J.D. Vance is meeting Iranian officials in Islamabad in the first direct talks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
- Jared Kushner and real estate developer Steve Witkoff are part of the team, an unusual lineup that has drawn scrutiny because of their business backgrounds.
- Sen. Mark Kelly criticized the picks as unqualified, calling them “two real estate developers,” and he blamed President Donald Trump for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
- The talks seek to steady a two-week ceasefire after a six-week confrontation, with each side accusing the other of breaking terms as negotiators look for a path to ease tensions.
- The Strait of Hormuz, which carries about 20% of the world’s oil, remains blocked, and Trump said it will reopen “fairly soon,” a shift that could lower fuel costs and shorten shipping delays if it occurs.