US-Iran Ceasefire Talks: US Central Command begins preparations to clear mines in Strait of Hormuz

Speaking during an evening prayer at Saint Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV said, “Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war.” 

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it has started operations to ensure the Strait of Hormuz is clear of sea mines. In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said that the USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy transited the strait as part of a “broader mission” to remove mines allegedly laid by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

US President Donald Trump confirmed that peace talks between the US, Iran, and Pakistan have officially begun. Speaking to NewsNation in a phone interview, he admitted that he is unsure about the potential success of the negotiations. When asked about the progress of the talks, Trump said, “I have no idea,” adding that he would soon know whether Iran is negotiating in good faith to resolve the ongoing conflict.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed strong support for his country’s delegation engaged in peace talks in Pakistan, saying they will “negotiate bravely” to defend Iran’s national interests. Speaking on X, Pezeshkian emphasized that government services will continue without interruption and assured citizens that “whatever the outcome of the negotiations, the government will stand by the people.”

Trump also wrote that Iran’s remaining military threat consists solely of “sea mines” reportedly deployed in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump wrote that the United States is beginning the process of clearing the strait, framing it as a global service benefiting countries including China, Japan, South Korea, France, and Germany. He also criticized these nations, claiming they lack “the Courage or Will to do this work themselves.” 

US President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to address the ongoing conflict with Iran, even as his top negotiators, including Vice President JD Vance, are in Pakistan for high-level peace talks. In his post, Trump pushed back against media reports suggesting Iran was gaining the upper hand, claiming that Tehran is “LOSING, and LOSING BIG!” He added that Iran’s navy, air force, and anti-aircraft defenses are no longer operational. 

A high-level Iranian negotiating team held internal consultations in Islamabad on Saturday as preparations intensify for expected ceasefire discussions with the United States.

Many empty oil tankers heading towards US, we've more oil than Russia, Saudi: Trump as US-Iran talks delayed

An Iranian government spokesperson has said that Tehran’s decision to send a delegation to Islamabad reflects its intent to engage seriously in negotiations with the United States, even as it maintains a cautious posture. Fatemeh Mohajerani подчеркнула that while Iran believes in dialogue and is approaching the talks with careful deliberation, it does not place trust in Washington. She added that Iran would not compromise on its sovereign rights and would remain vigilant, signalling that diplomatic engagement would proceed alongside a readiness to defend national interests.

A senior official from the United States has firmly rejected claims that Washington has agreed to release frozen assets belonging to Iran. The clarification comes amid growing speculation over potential financial concessions linked to ongoing diplomatic efforts.

JD Vance is currently holding discussions with Shehbaz Sharif, according to a statement from the White House. 

Fresh intelligence assessments from the United States suggest that China may be preparing to supply advanced air defence systems to Iran in the coming weeks, according to multiple media reports. The development, though not officially confirmed, is already drawing attention in diplomatic and security circles for its potential to reshape the balance of power in the region. Read the full story here. 

Before February 28, when the US planned Operation Epic Fury to attack Iran after months-long peace talks failed, Vice President JD Vance, perhaps, was the only person in the Donald Trump administration who advised against going into a conflict in the Middle East, warning of consequences. Read more

An Iranian delegation has departed for a meeting with Shehbaz Sharif, according to Al Jazeera.

Both the United States and Iran delegations are expected to hold separate meetings with Sharif before proceeding to formal negotiations.

Iran's first vice president Mohammad Reza Aref said peace talks between the United States and Iran could lead to a deal if Washington pursued its interests in line with President Donald Trump’s “America First” doctrine.

In a social media post, Aref said there would be no agreement “if we face representatives of ‘Israel first’.”

He also warned that “the world will face greater costs” if the talks fail and the US and Israel resume the conflict with Iran.

Ishaq Dar on Saturday called on the United States and Iran to “engage constructively” at talks in Islamabad aimed at ending the Middle East conflict, after both delegations arrived in the capital.

Dar “expressed the hope that parties would engage constructively, and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to continue facilitating the parties towards reaching a lasting and durable solution to the conflict,” a foreign ministry statement said.

National News Agency reported that three people were killed when an Israeli air strike hit and destroyed a residential building in Maifadoun town in the Nabatiyeh province of Lebanon.

The agency also reported multiple Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon ahead of peace talks between the United States and Iran in Pakistan.

Hezbollah said its fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli troops in the Kiryat Shmona settlement in northern Israel using missiles and drones.

The group also said it launched a rocket salvo at the Ya’ara barracks.

JD Vance has played a central role in pushing the United States and Iran towards talks set to begin in Islamabad, a senior Pakistani source told CNN.

The source said Vance helped bring both sides to the table as part of efforts to reach a diplomatic solution, with negotiations expected to begin within hours.

The person familiar with the process added that talks could last several days to secure a ceasefire, with Pakistani officials hoping to persuade Vance to remain in the country to support the effort.

Tasnim News Agency reported that the Iranian delegation is scheduled to meet Shehbaz Sharif at 1 pm on Saturday in Islamabad.

The report added that Iran’s negotiating team, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, held a meeting late on Friday with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the United States must accept Iran’s rights for a deal to be reached, following his arrival in Islamabad for peace talks.

Ghalibaf, who is leading Iran’s delegation, made the remarks late on Friday after reaching Islamabad for discussions with US officials led by Vice President JD Vance on ending the six week conflict.

Iran has come to Islamabad in good faith but does not trust the United States, Ghalibaf told media, according to Islamic Republic News Agency.

Tasnim News Agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that the Iranian delegation is scheduled to meet Shehbaz Sharif at noon on Saturday.

Iran’s negotiating team, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, held a late night meeting on Friday with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.

The Pakistan government has established a state of the art media centre to support local and international journalists covering the talks between the United States and Iran, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said.

Tarar told reporters that the facility at the Jinnah Convention Center provides high speed internet and a range of free services to assist media coverage. Shuttle services have also been arranged to transport journalists between the centre and a hotel located in the city’s main shopping district.

Visuals from Islamabad show security personnel deployed in large numbers to secure the perimeter around the Serena Hotel - the venue for high-stakes talks between the US and Iran for a ceasefire agreement to the conflict in West Asia.

A United States government aircraft carrying senior officials landed in Islamabad on Saturday for peace talks with Iran, according to two Pakistani sources cited by Reuters.

The US delegation is being led by Vice President JD Vance.

US intelligence suggests China is preparing to supply air defence systems to Iran in the coming weeks, according to a report by CNN citing sources familiar with the assessments.

The report said Beijing is planning to transfer shoulder-fired air defence systems and is exploring routing the shipments through third countries to conceal their origin.

Talks between Iran and the United States in Islamabad have been delayed from their originally expected start time, according to Tasnim News Agency.

The report said both delegations will first hold separate meetings with Shehbaz Sharif before formal negotiations begin.

Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli soldiers inside a house in the town of Shamaa in Tyre, southern Lebanon, at around 1:40 am local time on Saturday.

The group also said it launched “rocket barrages” shortly after midnight towards the Israeli settlements of Kiryat Shmona, Metula, and Misgav Am.

Israel has carried out air strikes on the towns of Toul and Jebchit in the Nabatieh governorate of Lebanon, according to Al Jazeera.

There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli military, and no initial reports of casualties.

Oil prices recorded their steepest weekly drop since the start of the conflict, with US crude oil falling 13.4 per cent and Brent crude declining 12.7 per cent, according to market data cited by NBC News.

US crude prices slid from about USD 111 per barrel at the start of the week to $96.57 by Friday, marking the sharpest weekly fall since the war began.

Former US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Friday that military force cannot bring about regime change, arguing that bombing campaigns do not produce lasting political outcomes.

“I think we’ve understood for a long time that you cannot bomb your way to a change in regime,” Panetta said in comments to Bloomberg. “With all sides now exhausted, there is now an opportunity to pursue a ceasefire.”

Panetta added that historical examples, including the Vietnam War, show that military strikes alone cannot quickly or decisively change a country’s leadership.

Assessments by the United States and Israel say Iran’s military has been significantly degraded but still retains notable firepower. More than half of its missile launchers are believed to be destroyed, damaged, or hidden, and its stockpile has been cut by about half, though some capabilities could be restored.

The Lebanon government and the administration of Donald Trump have asked Israel for a “pause” in strikes on Hezbollah ahead of planned direct talks between Israel and Lebanon, according to Axios.

Tasnim News Agency reports that Iran’s delegation to Islamabad includes 71 members, covering negotiators, advisers, media, and security teams. The group is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, with key figures including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, central bank governor Abdolnaser Hemmati, Ali Akbar Ahmadian, Kazem Gharibabadi, and Esmaeil Baghaei.

Amid continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, the United States is moving to fill supply gaps, with more than 60 empty Very Large Crude Carriers heading towards the US Gulf Coast to load crude, according to Iran International. Each vessel can carry about 2 million barrels, helping supply Asian and European markets as traffic through the strait remains below normal with ongoing delays.

Iran said its “preconditions have been accepted” by the United States ahead of ceasefire talks in Islamabad, according to a statement from the Iranian Embassy in South Africa.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had on Friday outlined two key conditions for the talks: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets before negotiations begin.