On Saturday, April 11, all attention turned to Pakistan’s capital as high-stakes negotiations commenced between US and Iranian delegations. These “make-or-break” talks aim to solidify a fragile six-week ceasefire into a permanent resolution, marking the first direct diplomatic engagement since the outbreak of the conflict.
Prior to the discussions, US Vice President JD Vance met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Sharif conveyed his hope that the dialogue would act as a foundational step toward regional peace. Vance’s approach combines diplomatic openness with military readiness, while President Donald Trump warned that US warships are fully armed should the negotiations collapse, predicting clarity within 24 hours.
Donald Trump has claimed the US has begun clearing mines in the strait of Hormuz “as a favour to countries all over the world”.
In a post on his Truth Social app, the US president said Iran’s minelaying ships “are also lying at the bottom of the sea”.
While claiming all of the Iranian military’s air and naval capabilities have diminished and its missiles and drones “have been largely obliterated”, Trump added:
The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may “bunk” into one of their sea mines which, by the way, all 28 of their mine dropper boats are also lying at the bottom of the sea. We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others. Incredibly, they don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves.
He repeated an earlier comment that empty tankers “from many nations” are heading to the US for oil.
Meanwhile, a senior Iranian source claimed to Reuters that Washington has consented to release Tehran’s frozen funds held in Qatar and other foreign banks. The source added that this gesture is tied to ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz ahead of any lasting peace accord. However, a White House official has refuted these reports.
The Iranian team, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has laid out firm conditions for formal talks: an immediate halt to Israeli strikes in Lebanon and the release of blocked assets.
