Peace talks involving the United States and Iran were reported to be continuing in Islamabad on Saturday, as Pakistan tried to broker a deal to ease tensions in the region. The discussions came amid fresh claims from the US that Iran is struggling to locate mines it laid in the Strait of Hormuz, and after Donald Trump said the US had begun clearing mines there.
The latest developments were reported by both US and Iranian media, which said the negotiations were still under way in Pakistan’s capital. At the same time, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel remained committed to fighting Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a major focus of the wider crisis. According to the source, it has been blockaded by Iran since the beginning of the war, with serious consequences for the global economy. The disruption has raised concerns across shipping and energy markets because the waterway is a key route for international trade.
US claims over mines in the strait
US officials have claimed that Iran is unable to find mines it laid in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump separately said the US had begun clearing mines in the waterway, adding another layer to the already tense standoff over access to the passage.
The dispute over the strait has also become part of the ceasefire discussion. Iran has proposed charging tolls for ships passing through the waterway as part of the negotiations, but that idea is expected to face resistance at a meeting the UK will host next week.
UK to host talks on shipping access
A British official told AP that the UK will bring together multiple countries next week to discuss restoring free movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting is intended to support efforts to reopen the waterway and reduce pressure on global trade.
The same official said the gathering will oppose the idea of tolls for passage through the strait. That proposal has been put forward by Iran during the ceasefire talks, but is not expected to gain support among the countries attending the UK-hosted meeting.
The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic efforts continuing in Islamabad while regional and international governments weigh how to respond to the blockade and the wider conflict. For now, the talks appear to be moving on multiple fronts, with Pakistan, the US, Iran, the UK and Israel all playing roles in the evolving crisis.
More developments are expected as negotiations continue and governments prepare for next week’s meeting on the Strait of Hormuz.
