US–Iran negotiations in Islamabad have run into an itch-like roadblock as both sides are struggling to get over their differences over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, sources close to the matter told ProPakistani.
The talks continued late into Saturday with no sign of an immediate agreement. Discussions may extend further as negotiators attempt to resolve key sticking points to permanently end the war.
Iranian state-linked outlet Tasnim reported that the dialogue has been ongoing for several hours, with technical teams from both sides now exchanging written proposals.
A Pakistan-based source told Reuters that the early phase of the talks was quite uneven and tense.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Iran is pushing to retain its strategic leverage over the waterway, while the United States is seeking firm assurances for uninterrupted international shipping through it.
Another unresolved issue is Iran’s insistence that any broader settlement also address regional skirmishes involving Lebanon. The US team has so far rejected expanding the agenda to include that demand.
The high-level negotiations are taking place in Islamabad with the Pakistani government involved in facilitation efforts. The US delegation is led by Vice President J.D. Vance while Iran’s team is headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Iran has also outlined several core demands, including reparations for war damages, the release of $6 billion in frozen assets, and limits on external military pressure affecting its regional allies. The United States has countered with its own framework focusing on nuclear restrictions and maritime stability in the Hormuz Strait.
So far, the talks remain intense and deadlocked, with no indication yet of a compromise. Their decision on Hormuz will potentially determine whether the ceasefire framework holds or begins to crack.