U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks Resume in Islamabad Amid Strait of Hormuz Standoff

High-stakes diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran entered their second day in Islamabad on Sunday, with both sides still far apart on key issues — particularly American demands over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Tasnim news agency, which maintains close ties to the country's security establishment, reported that Tehran is pushing back against what it calls unreasonable conditions imposed by Washington.

The American delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance, joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner. Iran sent Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who also held a separate meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistani officials confirmed that three-way talks were progressing, though the format — whether joint or shuttle diplomacy — remained unclear.

President Donald Trump struck a deliberately ambiguous tone, describing the discussions as "very deep negotiations" while insisting the outcome made "no difference" to him. He added that the U.S. would "win regardless," and confirmed that Navy minesweepers were actively clearing the Strait, cautioning that a "couple of mines" may still be in the water.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf to global oil markets, has been severely disrupted since the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran in late February targeting its missile and nuclear programs. The closure sent global oil and gas prices surging. Two Chinese supertankers became among the first vessels to transit the waterway after a ceasefire was announced earlier in the week.

Conflicting reports emerged over a potential unfreezing of Iranian assets held in Qatar. Iranian officials linked the release to restoring Hormuz shipping access, but a U.S. official flatly denied any such agreement had been reached. Talks were still ongoing as of Sunday afternoon local time.