US President Donald Trump’s Iran war gamble faces no clear exit, with rising tensions, oil shock from the Strait of Hormuz crisis, and a fragile ceasefire failing to stabilise the conflict.

US President Donald Trump’s Iran war gamble faces no clear exit, with rising tensions, oil shock from the Strait of Hormuz crisis, and a fragile ceasefire failing to stabilise the conflict.

Trump ‘talked’ into Iran war but can’t find an exit? Here’s how crisis is unfolding

Pakistan has deployed over 10,000 police personnel and imposed sweeping security measures in Rawalpindi and Islamabad amid growing speculation over a possible second round of talks between the US and Iran, even as no official date has been announced.&nbsp;According to a report by The Express Tribune, authorities have established over 600 checkpoints across Rawalpindi, the city adjacent to the capital, as part of heightened security arrangements for the potential arrival of foreign delegations.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-indian-men-shot-dead-outside-gurdwara-in-italy-s-covo-during-vaisakhi-gathering-1776584466749">Two Indian men shot dead outside gurdwara in Italy’s Covo during Vaisakhi gathering</a>&nbsp;The US and Iran held rare direct talks in Pakistan on April 11 and 12 in an effort to resolve their conflict, but the discussions concluded without any agreement. Islamabad has since renewed diplomatic efforts to facilitate another round of negotiations aimed at securing a final deal.&nbsp;As part of these efforts, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye, while Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir spent three days in Iran to build consensus on key issues. Security measures have intensified after the remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting he may visit Pakistan for the signing of a potential agreement with Tehran.<h2>Special measures across cities</h2>Authorities have announced that several sensitive areas around Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi and Islamabad International Airport will be sealed from midnight on Sunday. A red alert has been declared, particularly in the vicinity of these locations, with police officers also being deployed on rooftops to enhance surveillance.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/trump-2-0-at-home-and-abroad-doubts-over-the-president-s-sanity-1776573489395">Trump 2.0: At home and abroad, doubts over the president’s sanity</a>&nbsp;The security protocol extends to Islamabad, where officials have begun securing sensitive routes and obtaining safety clearances from building owners. Property owners along these routes have been instructed to follow strict security guidelines, including restricting access to unrelated individuals and prohibiting parking.&nbsp;In Rawalpindi, special measures have been enforced in areas under the jurisdiction of New Town, Sadiqabad and Chaklala police stations. Restaurants in these areas have been ordered to close from midnight until further notice, while parks, markets, beauty parlours, snooker clubs, fitness centres, paan shops, kiosks, barber shops, banks and bakeries will also remain shut.&nbsp;

Pakistan has deployed 10,000 police officers and enforced strict lockdowns in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, securing airports and sensitive routes ahead of potential, though unconfirmed, high-level US-Iran diplomatic talks.

Pakistan has deployed over 10,000 police personnel and imposed sweeping security measures in Rawalpindi and Islamabad amid growing speculation over a possible second round of talks between the US and Iran, even as no official date has been announced. According to a report by The Express Tribune, authorities have established over 600 checkpoints across Rawalpindi, the city adjacent to the capital, as part of heightened security arrangements for the potential arrival of foreign delegations. Also read: Two Indian men shot dead outside gurdwara in Italy’s Covo during Vaisakhi gathering The US and Iran held rare direct talks in Pakistan on April 11 and 12 in an effort to resolve their conflict, but the discussions concluded without any agreement. Islamabad has since renewed diplomatic efforts to facilitate another round of negotiations aimed at securing a final deal. As part of these efforts, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye, while Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir spent three days in Iran to build consensus on key issues. Security measures have intensified after the remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting he may visit Pakistan for the signing of a potential agreement with Tehran. Special measures across cities Authorities have announced that several sensitive areas around Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi and Islamabad International Airport will be sealed from midnight on Sunday. A red alert has been declared, particularly in the vicinity of these locations, with police officers also being deployed on rooftops to enhance surveillance. Also read: Trump 2.0: At home and abroad, doubts over the president’s sanity The security protocol extends to Islamabad, where officials have begun securing sensitive routes and obtaining safety clearances from building owners. Property owners along these routes have been instructed to follow strict security guidelines, including restricting access to unrelated individuals and prohibiting parking. In Rawalpindi, special measures have been enforced in areas under the jurisdiction of New Town, Sadiqabad and Chaklala police stations. Restaurants in these areas have been ordered to close from midnight until further notice, while parks, markets, beauty parlours, snooker clubs, fitness centres, paan shops, kiosks, barber shops, banks and bakeries will also remain shut.

Pakistan has deployed 10,000 police officers and enforced strict lockdowns in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, securing airports and sensitive routes ahead of potential, though unconfirmed, high-level US-Iran diplomatic talks.

Despite no dates set for US-Iran talks 2.0, Pakistan deploys over 10,000 police officers in Islamabad, Rawalpindi

Iran is not ready to hold a new round of face-to-face talks with the United States due to Washington’s refusal to abandon “maximalist” demands on key issues, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said. He added that his country will not give up its enriched uranium to the US, dismissing claims made by US President Donald Trump. This comes after Tehran reimposed restrictions on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, accusing the US of “breaches of trust” amid the fragile ceasefire. Meanwhile, Trump has said that negotiations were ongoing but warned Tehran that the US won’t tolerate “blackmail” over the strait.In an interview with The Associated Press, Khatibzadeh said, “I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to the United States.” He added, “This is non-starter and I can assure you that while we are ready to address any concerns that we do have, we’re not going to accept things that are nonstarters.”Earlier on Friday, Trump said the US will go into Iran and “get all the nuclear dust.” It is believed that 970 pounds (440 kilograms) of enriched uranium were buried under nuclear sites that were severely damaged after being targeted by US strikes last year.Khatibzadeh said that while there have been many exchanges of messages between both sides, the US was holding firm demands that were viewed as excessive by Iran.“We are still not there yet to move on to an actual meeting because there are issues that the Americans have not yet abandoned their maximalist position,” he said, adding that Tehran was seeking the finalisation of a “framework agreement” before moving to in-person discussions.“The other sides also should understand and address our main concerns, which are illegal unilateral sanctions that Americans have imposed on Iranians and this economic terrorism which has targeted Iranian people to suffocate them and make them to revolt against the political structure inside Iran,” Khatibzadeh said.When asked whether Tehran would respond to renewed Israeli attacks on Lebanon despite the ceasefire, Khatibzadeh said that “Iran has no option, just to stop aggressors once and forever.”Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Iran has rejected US “maximalist” demands, with Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh stating it will not hand over enriched uranium.

Iran is not ready to hold a new round of face-to-face talks with the United States due to Washington’s refusal to abandon “maximalist” demands on key issues, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said. He added that his country will not give up its enriched uranium to the US, dismissing claims made by US President Donald Trump. This comes after Tehran reimposed restrictions on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, accusing the US of “breaches of trust” amid the fragile ceasefire. Meanwhile, Trump has said that negotiations were ongoing but warned Tehran that the US won’t tolerate “blackmail” over the strait. In an interview with The Associated Press, Khatibzadeh said, “I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to the United States.” He added, “This is non-starter and I can assure you that while we are ready to address any concerns that we do have, we’re not going to accept things that are nonstarters.” Earlier on Friday, Trump said the US will go into Iran and “get all the nuclear dust.” It is believed that 970 pounds (440 kilograms) of enriched uranium were buried under nuclear sites that were severely damaged after being targeted by US strikes last year. Khatibzadeh said that while there have been many exchanges of messages between both sides, the US was holding firm demands that were viewed as excessive by Iran. “We are still not there yet to move on to an actual meeting because there are issues that the Americans have not yet abandoned their maximalist position,” he said, adding that Tehran was seeking the finalisation of a “framework agreement” before moving to in-person discussions. “The other sides also should understand and address our main concerns, which are illegal unilateral sanctions that Americans have imposed on Iranians and this economic terrorism which has targeted Iranian people to suffocate them and make them to revolt against the political structure inside Iran,” Khatibzadeh said. When asked whether Tehran would respond to renewed Israeli attacks on Lebanon despite the ceasefire, Khatibzadeh said that “Iran has no option, just to stop aggressors once and forever.” Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Iran has rejected US “maximalist” demands, with Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh stating it will not hand over enriched uranium.

‘Non-starter’: Iran blames US ‘maximalist’ demands for stalling face-to-face talks, rejects giving up uranium

Amid tensions in West Asia, the United States and Iran are reportedly engaged in high-stakes negotiations over a proposed three-page framework aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. Reports suggest that one key element under discussion involves the potential release of up to $20 billion in frozen Iranian assets in exchange for Tehran giving up its stockpile of enriched uranium.According to an Axios report, citing US officials and other sources, the negotiations are expected to continue in Islamabad, with Pakistan acting as the primary mediator, backed by Egypt and Turkey. The outlet added that the discussions are focused on addressing concerns over Iran’s nearly 2,000 kg of enriched uranium, including a significant portion enriched to 60 per cent purity, which is close to weapons-grade levels.While the US has pushed for Iran to transfer its nuclear material out of the country, Tehran has resisted, proposing instead to “down-blend” the uranium domestically under international supervision. Reportedly, a compromise is being explored that would involve sending part of the material to a third country while processing the rest within Iran.Meanwhile, the US has called for a 20-year halt, while Iran has suggested five years, leaving mediators to bridge the gap. The draft agreement also outlines provisions allowing Iran to operate civilian nuclear reactors for medical purposes, while requiring its underground nuclear facilities to remain inactive.The discussions also involve broader regional concerns, including security around the Strait of Hormuz, though significant disagreements remain. If successful, the deal could end hostilities, but it risks political backlash, particularly from hardliners who oppose concessions to Tehran.Trump called the report “totally false”, adding that “No money is changing hands”. Although he did not specifically refer to the possibility of unblocking Iranian funds.According to Axios, the US was ready to release $6 billion for Iran to purchase food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies in an earlier stage of the talks. However, Tehran demanded $27 billion. It added that the latest amount that was discussed by the two nations is $20 billion.Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

The United States and Iran are in talks to end the conflict, reportedly discussing a possible $20 billion deal tied to uranium limits. Here’s what we know about it.

Amid tensions in West Asia, the United States and Iran are reportedly engaged in high-stakes negotiations over a proposed three-page framework aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. Reports suggest that one key element under discussion involves the potential release of up to $20 billion in frozen Iranian assets in exchange for Tehran giving up its stockpile of enriched uranium. According to an Axios report, citing US officials and other sources, the negotiations are expected to continue in Islamabad, with Pakistan acting as the primary mediator, backed by Egypt and Turkey. The outlet added that the discussions are focused on addressing concerns over Iran’s nearly 2,000 kg of enriched uranium, including a significant portion enriched to 60 per cent purity, which is close to weapons-grade levels. While the US has pushed for Iran to transfer its nuclear material out of the country, Tehran has resisted, proposing instead to “down-blend” the uranium domestically under international supervision. Reportedly, a compromise is being explored that would involve sending part of the material to a third country while processing the rest within Iran. Meanwhile, the US has called for a 20-year halt, while Iran has suggested five years, leaving mediators to bridge the gap. The draft agreement also outlines provisions allowing Iran to operate civilian nuclear reactors for medical purposes, while requiring its underground nuclear facilities to remain inactive. The discussions also involve broader regional concerns, including security around the Strait of Hormuz, though significant disagreements remain. If successful, the deal could end hostilities, but it risks political backlash, particularly from hardliners who oppose concessions to Tehran. Trump called the report “totally false”, adding that “No money is changing hands”. Although he did not specifically refer to the possibility of unblocking Iranian funds. According to Axios, the US was ready to release $6 billion for Iran to purchase food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies in an earlier stage of the talks. However, Tehran demanded $27 billion. It added that the latest amount that was discussed by the two nations is $20 billion. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

The United States and Iran are in talks to end the conflict, reportedly discussing a possible $20 billion deal tied to uranium limits. Here’s what we know about it.

Is US paying Iran $20 billion for its uranium? Here’s the truth

US President Donald Trump, on Friday, April 17, 2026, after claiming victory and the complete opening of the Strait of Hormuz, &nbsp;acknowledged that “there could” still be differences to work out between the U.S. and Iran. While talking to the reporters in Phoenix on Friday, Trump slightly tempered his earlier claim that Tehran had “agreed to everything” to the two countries have had "some very good discussions.""We've done a good job, but we'll see,” Trump said. "Talks are going on and will go on over the weekend, and a lot of good things are happening," Trump continued, adding, "That includes Lebanon, too.".Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-rebukes-israel-lebanon-ceasefire-iran-reopens-strait-hormuz-1776496556104">Trump rebukes Israel over Lebanon ceasefire, a shift in power dynamics in West Asia</a>When the reporters said Iran claimed that the two countries have significant differences, "Let's see what happens. If there are, we'll have to straighten it out. But I don't think there are too many significant differences." But he insisted that the US blockade of Iran will end once Iran signs a deal.&nbsp;While Trump continues to frame the agreement as a potential “deal” that is near completion, key sticking points remain. Iran has categorically denied any deal involving the transfer of enriched uranium. Trump insists on the permanent end of Iran's nuclear programme, while Iran views continued enrichment as a "red line". President Donald Trump said in-person discussions would "probably" happen this weekend. Though reports from ABC News suggest that the US officials believe that a potential talk could be held on “Monday”. Further, there is no discussion about Iran's proxies and its missile program.&nbsp;Iran is further claiming release of its billions of dollars in frozen assets, and media reports have suggested a potential "cash-for-uranium" deal, but Trump explicitly denied these claims. The US has also denied these claims that Iran is also seeking $270 billion in war reparations. &nbsp;Official statement of Iranian negotiations leader, Mohammed Ghalibaf and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmael Baqaei suggest that Iran will not allow navigation in the Strait of Hormuz if the American blockade continues, and that navigation will be carried out based on a "designated route" and with "Iranian permission." Official statement further suggests that the open or closed status of the Hormuz will be determined in the field, not on social media.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trump says US-Iran talks show progress but admits differences remain over nuclear deal and Strait of Hormuz access, as Tehran rejects uranium transfer claims.

US President Donald Trump, on Friday, April 17, 2026, after claiming victory and the complete opening of the Strait of Hormuz, acknowledged that “there could” still be differences to work out between the U.S. and Iran. While talking to the reporters in Phoenix on Friday, Trump slightly tempered his earlier claim that Tehran had “agreed to everything” to the two countries have had "some very good discussions." "We've done a good job, but we'll see,” Trump said. "Talks are going on and will go on over the weekend, and a lot of good things are happening," Trump continued, adding, "That includes Lebanon, too." . Also Read: Trump rebukes Israel over Lebanon ceasefire, a shift in power dynamics in West Asia When the reporters said Iran claimed that the two countries have significant differences, "Let's see what happens. If there are, we'll have to straighten it out. But I don't think there are too many significant differences." But he insisted that the US blockade of Iran will end once Iran signs a deal. While Trump continues to frame the agreement as a potential “deal” that is near completion, key sticking points remain. Iran has categorically denied any deal involving the transfer of enriched uranium. Trump insists on the permanent end of Iran's nuclear programme, while Iran views continued enrichment as a "red line". President Donald Trump said in-person discussions would "probably" happen this weekend. Though reports from ABC News suggest that the US officials believe that a potential talk could be held on “Monday”. Further, there is no discussion about Iran's proxies and its missile program. Iran is further claiming release of its billions of dollars in frozen assets, and media reports have suggested a potential "cash-for-uranium" deal, but Trump explicitly denied these claims. The US has also denied these claims that Iran is also seeking $270 billion in war reparations. Official statement of Iranian negotiations leader, Mohammed Ghalibaf and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmael Baqaei suggest that Iran will not allow navigation in the Strait of Hormuz if the American blockade continues, and that navigation will be carried out based on a "designated route" and with "Iranian permission." Official statement further suggests that the open or closed status of the Hormuz will be determined in the field, not on social media.

Trump says US-Iran talks show progress but admits differences remain over nuclear deal and Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran rejects uranium transfer claims.

Trump acknowledges possible remaining gaps after claiming Tehran 'agreed to everything'

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran is prepared to hand over its so-called “nuclear dust” to the United States, a term he uses to describe Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium believed to be buried underground after US strikes on key nuclear sites last June. There has been no immediate confirmation from Iran regarding any such agreement in ongoing talks with the US or through Pakistani intermediaries. If true, however, the move would mark a major step toward limiting Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon. "There will be no enrichment of Uranium," Trump said, adding that the United States would work with Iran to "dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) nuclear 'dust.'"<h2>How much uranium does Iran have?</h2>Before US and Israeli airstrikes in June, Iran was estimated to possess over 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, along with nearly 200 kilograms enriched to 20%, material that can be further refined to weapons-grade levels of 90%. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is intended for civilian energy production and energy security. However, available data has raised doubts about that claim.&nbsp;Tehran has announced plans to expand its nuclear electricity generation capacity to 20 gigawatts by 2041. Currently, its only operational nuclear facility is the Bushehr power plant, built by Russia and operational since 2013, with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts. This contributes roughly 1% to Iran’s total electricity output. To address a 25,000-megawatt shortfall, Iran would need to construct about 25 similar plants, each taking nearly two decades to complete.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/-hungry-all-the-time-us-navy-calls-uss-abraham-lincoln-uss-tripoli-food-shortage-claims-fake-news-1776477997252">‘Hungry all the time’? US Navy calls USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Tripoli food shortage claims ‘fake news’</a>&nbsp;Energy strategist Umud Shokri said in an interview with Deutsche Welle (DW), “Iran holds some of the world's largest natural gas and oil reserves, enabling electricity generation at costs significantly lower than nuclear power.” "In practice, its electricity mix remains dominated by natural gas, while nuclear contributes only a small share from the single operating Bushehr reactor."<h2>Where is Iran’s uranium stored?</h2>A significant portion of Iran’s enriched uranium is believed to be buried beneath a mountainous site damaged during US airstrikes, operations Trump previously claimed had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities. According to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, most of Iran’s nuclear material is located at two of the three targeted sites: an underground tunnel at the Isfahan nuclear complex and storage at Natanz. Reports suggest Iran still possesses centrifuges and retains the capability to establish new underground enrichment facilities.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/myanmar-junta-chief-turned-prez-min-aung-hlaing-approves-prisoner-release-1776480278945/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/myanmar-junta-chief-turned-prez-min-aung-hlaing-approves-prisoner-release-1776480278945/embed</a><h2>The ongoing nuclear standoff</h2>Iran’s nuclear program remains a central point of contention between Washington and Tehran. The US considers Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile a serious security threat due to its potential use in nuclear weapons. While Iran insists it does not seek nuclear arms, a pledge not to build them in the future may carry limited weight.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, handing over existing enriched uranium would represent a more meaningful concession, though concerns would remain if Iran retains enrichment capabilities. US officials have said that last year’s joint US-Israeli strikes destroyed or disabled many of Iran’s centrifuges. Still, it is widely believed that additional equipment remains operational.

Trump claims Iran may hand over its buried enriched uranium or “nuclear dust.” No confirmation yet, but it could impact US-Iran nuclear tensions

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran is prepared to hand over its so-called “nuclear dust” to the United States, a term he uses to describe Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium believed to be buried underground after US strikes on key nuclear sites last June. There has been no immediate confirmation from Iran regarding any such agreement in ongoing talks with the US or through Pakistani intermediaries. If true, however, the move would mark a major step toward limiting Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon. "There will be no enrichment of Uranium," Trump said, adding that the United States would work with Iran to "dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) nuclear 'dust.'" How much uranium does Iran have? Before US and Israeli airstrikes in June, Iran was estimated to possess over 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, along with nearly 200 kilograms enriched to 20%, material that can be further refined to weapons-grade levels of 90%. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is intended for civilian energy production and energy security. However, available data has raised doubts about that claim. Tehran has announced plans to expand its nuclear electricity generation capacity to 20 gigawatts by 2041. Currently, its only operational nuclear facility is the Bushehr power plant, built by Russia and operational since 2013, with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts. This contributes roughly 1% to Iran’s total electricity output. To address a 25,000-megawatt shortfall, Iran would need to construct about 25 similar plants, each taking nearly two decades to complete. Also Read: ‘Hungry all the time’? US Navy calls USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Tripoli food shortage claims ‘fake news’ Energy strategist Umud Shokri said in an interview with Deutsche Welle (DW), “Iran holds some of the world's largest natural gas and oil reserves, enabling electricity generation at costs significantly lower than nuclear power.” "In practice, its electricity mix remains dominated by natural gas, while nuclear contributes only a small share from the single operating Bushehr reactor." Where is Iran’s uranium stored? A significant portion of Iran’s enriched uranium is believed to be buried beneath a mountainous site damaged during US airstrikes, operations Trump previously claimed had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities. According to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, most of Iran’s nuclear material is located at two of the three targeted sites: an underground tunnel at the Isfahan nuclear complex and storage at Natanz. Reports suggest Iran still possesses centrifuges and retains the capability to establish new underground enrichment facilities. https://www.wionews.com/videos/myanmar-junta-chief-turned-prez-min-aung-hlaing-approves-prisoner-release-1776480278945/embed The ongoing nuclear standoff Iran’s nuclear program remains a central point of contention between Washington and Tehran. The US considers Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile a serious security threat due to its potential use in nuclear weapons. While Iran insists it does not seek nuclear arms, a pledge not to build them in the future may carry limited weight. However, handing over existing enriched uranium would represent a more meaningful concession, though concerns would remain if Iran retains enrichment capabilities. US officials have said that last year’s joint US-Israeli strikes destroyed or disabled many of Iran’s centrifuges. Still, it is widely believed that additional equipment remains operational.

Donald Trump claims Iran may hand over buried enriched uranium. Tehran has denied the deal, but it could mark a major step in limiting nuclear weapon risks

What 'nuclear dust' means? Trump claims Iran may give up enriched uranium as Tehran denies 'transfer claim'

The next round of diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran is expected to happen in Pakistan on Monday (Apr 20), according to reports. According to CNN, citing Iranian sources, delegations from both sides are expected to travel to Islamabad on Monday. Notably, Washington has yet to confirm the schedule. This comes as US President Donald Trump on Friday (Apr 17) told AFP that a peace deal was 'very close' and that the Iranians have agreed to surrender their nuclear materials. Iran, meanwhile, has rejected the POTUS's claims.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/-fake-jesus-iran-turns-trump-s-deleted-ai-image-into-a-viral-lego-diss-track-amid-pope-row-in-pics-1776326285612">'Fake Jesus!': Iran turns Trump's deleted AI-image into a viral LEGO diss track amid Pope row | In pics</a><h2>A peace deal is 'very close'</h2>In a telephonic conversation with the news agency, Trump insisted, "We're very close. Looks like it's going to be very good for everybody. And we're very close to having a deal".As Iran moved to open the Strait of Hormuz, he also said that there were "no sticking points at all" left with Tehran. "The strait's going to be open; they already are open. And things are going very well."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-they-sure-get-to-die-for-them-though-iran-mocks-reports-of-food-shortages-on-uss-tripoli-and-uss-abraham-lincoln-warships-iran-war-1776414073483">'They sure get to die for them, though!': Iran mocks reports of food shortages on USS Tripoli and USS Abraham Lincoln</a><h2>Iran not ready to transfer its uranium stockpile</h2>Iran's foreign ministry, in a statement, insisted that the nation would not transfer its uranium stockpile "anywhere". "Enriched uranium is as SACRED to us as the soil of Iran" said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, adding, "Will NOT be transferred anywhere under any circumstances”. &nbsp;However, Trump insists that the USA will take possession of the "nuclear dust".President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States and Iran would jointly remove uranium from Tehran's nuclear sites with excavators under any peace deal, before the material is transferred to US territory. Despite Iran's Foreign Ministry's rejection of the claims, the US president insisted that his nation would use the "biggest excavators" to get to the stockpile."Somebody said, how are we going to get the nuclear dust? We're going to get it by going in with Iran, with lots of excavators," Trump told a gathering of the conservative Turning Point USA movement in Phoenix, Arizona."We need the biggest excavators you can imagine," he answered, adding, "But we're going to go in together with Iran. We're going to get it. We're going to take it back home to the USA very soon."&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

US and Iran on the brink of a deal? Reports suggest that the next round of truce talks may happen in Pakistan on Monday. Donald Trump says a breakthrough is “very close,” even as Tehran rejects key claims on its nuclear programme.

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The next round of diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran is expected to happen in Pakistan on Monday (Apr 20), according to reports. According to CNN, citing Iranian sources, delegations from both sides are expected to travel to Islamabad on Monday. Notably, Washington has yet to confirm the schedule. This comes as US President Donald Trump on Friday (Apr 17) told AFP that a peace deal was 'very close' and that the Iranians have agreed to surrender their nuclear materials. Iran, meanwhile, has rejected the POTUS's claims. Also read | 'Fake Jesus!': Iran turns Trump's deleted AI-image into a viral LEGO diss track amid Pope row | In pics A peace deal is 'very close' In a telephonic conversation with the news agency, Trump insisted, "We're very close. Looks like it's going to be very good for everybody. And we're very close to having a deal". As Iran moved to open the Strait of Hormuz, he also said that there were "no sticking points at all" left with Tehran. "The strait's going to be open; they already are open. And things are going very well." Also read | 'They sure get to die for them, though!': Iran mocks reports of food shortages on USS Tripoli and USS Abraham Lincoln Iran not ready to transfer its uranium stockpile Iran's foreign ministry, in a statement, insisted that the nation would not transfer its uranium stockpile "anywhere". "Enriched uranium is as SACRED to us as the soil of Iran" said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, adding, "Will NOT be transferred anywhere under any circumstances”. However, Trump insists that the USA will take possession of the "nuclear dust". President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States and Iran would jointly remove uranium from Tehran's nuclear sites with excavators under any peace deal, before the material is transferred to US territory. Despite Iran's Foreign Ministry's rejection of the claims, the US president insisted that his nation would use the "biggest excavators" to get to the stockpile. "Somebody said, how are we going to get the nuclear dust? We're going to get it by going in with Iran, with lots of excavators," Trump told a gathering of the conservative Turning Point USA movement in Phoenix, Arizona. "We need the biggest excavators you can imagine," he answered, adding, "But we're going to go in together with Iran. We're going to get it. We're going to take it back home to the USA very soon." Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

US and Iran on the brink of a deal? Reports suggest that the next round of truce talks may happen in Pakistan on Monday. Donald Trump says a breakthrough is “very close,” even as Tehran rejects key claims on its nuclear programme.Scroll down to read more.

US-Iran peace talks expected in Pakistan on Monday as Trump eyes nuclear 'dust'

Tehran on Saturday (April 18) warned it could once again shut the Strait of Hormuz if the United States continues its naval blockade of Iranian ports, just hours after the crucial shipping route was reopened following a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. The reopening of the strait had boosted global markets on Friday and raised hopes of de-escalation, with US President Donald Trump telling news agency AFP that a peace agreement was “very close.” He also claimed that Iran had agreed to transfer its enriched uranium, one of the main sticking points in negotiations.&nbsp;"We're going to get it by going in with Iran, with lots of excavators," Trump told a gathering of the conservative Turning Point USA movement in Phoenix. Iran, however, rejected the assertion, insisting its enriched uranium stockpile would not be moved. At the same time, officials warned that continued US naval interference could lead to renewed disruption in the strait, a vital global trade route through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-usa-will-get-all-nuclear-dust-says-trump-at-turning-point-usa-event-in-phoenix-1776459649800">'Will bring Iran uranium back home to USA', says Trump at Turning Point USA event in Phoenix</a>&nbsp;"With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open," parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X, adding that passage through the waterway would require Iran’s authorization. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei emphasised that decisions regarding the strait are determined on the ground. "The opening and closing of the Strait of Hormuz, does not take place on the internet; it is determined in the field, and our armed forces certainly know how to behave in response to any action by the other side," he said.&nbsp;He further warned that any continued blockade would provoke a response from Tehran. “What they call a naval blockade will definitely be met with an appropriate response from Iran. A naval blockade is a violation of the ceasefire, and Iran will definitely take the necessary measures.” Despite the tensions, Trump struck an optimistic tone, describing the day as “GREAT AND BRILLIANT” in a series of social media posts. He praised mediation efforts by Pakistan and Gulf allies, while rejecting assistance from NATO, urging the alliance to “STAY AWAY.”&nbsp;In a phone interview with AFP, Trump reiterated his confidence in the negotiations. "Looks like it's going to be very good for everybody. And we're very close to having a deal," he said, adding that there were "no sticking points at all" remaining with Tehran.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">۱- رئیس جمهور آمریکا در یک ساعت هفت ادعا مطرح کرد که هر هفت ادعا کذب است. ۲- با این دروغگویی‌ها در جنگ پیروز نشدند و حتما در مذاکره هم راه به جایی نخواهند برد. ۳- با ادامهٔ محاصره، تنگهٔ هرمز باز نخواهد ماند.&mdash; محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) <a href="https://twitter.com/mb_ghalibaf/status/2045264713593114970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Here's what Ghalibaf said in his post on X</h2><ul><li>The President of the United States made seven claims in one hour, all seven of which were false. &nbsp;</li><li>They did not win the war with these lies, and they will certainly not get anywhere in negotiations either. &nbsp;</li><li>With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open.</li><li>Passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be conducted based on the ‘designated route’ and with ‘Iranian authorization’.&nbsp;</li><li>Whether the Strait is open or closed and the regulations governing it will be determined by the field, not by social media.</li><li>Media warfare and engineering public opinion are an important part of war, and the Iranian nation is not affected by these tricks. Read the real and accurate news of the negotiations in the recent interview of the Foreign Ministry spokesman.</li></ul><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/women-s-reservation-bill-fails-govt-fails-to-get-two-third-lok-sabha-majority-1776446992475/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/women-s-reservation-bill-fails-govt-fails-to-get-two-third-lok-sabha-majority-1776446992475/embed</a>&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations, and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf issued a warning to Donald Trump, saying that if the naval blockade continues on the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran will close it

Tehran on Saturday (April 18) warned it could once again shut the Strait of Hormuz if the United States continues its naval blockade of Iranian ports, just hours after the crucial shipping route was reopened following a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. The reopening of the strait had boosted global markets on Friday and raised hopes of de-escalation, with US President Donald Trump telling news agency AFP that a peace agreement was “very close.” He also claimed that Iran had agreed to transfer its enriched uranium, one of the main sticking points in negotiations. "We're going to get it by going in with Iran, with lots of excavators," Trump told a gathering of the conservative Turning Point USA movement in Phoenix. Iran, however, rejected the assertion, insisting its enriched uranium stockpile would not be moved. At the same time, officials warned that continued US naval interference could lead to renewed disruption in the strait, a vital global trade route through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows. Also Read: 'Will bring Iran uranium back home to USA', says Trump at Turning Point USA event in Phoenix "With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open," parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X, adding that passage through the waterway would require Iran’s authorization. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei emphasised that decisions regarding the strait are determined on the ground. "The opening and closing of the Strait of Hormuz, does not take place on the internet; it is determined in the field, and our armed forces certainly know how to behave in response to any action by the other side," he said. He further warned that any continued blockade would provoke a response from Tehran. “What they call a naval blockade will definitely be met with an appropriate response from Iran. A naval blockade is a violation of the ceasefire, and Iran will definitely take the necessary measures.” Despite the tensions, Trump struck an optimistic tone, describing the day as “GREAT AND BRILLIANT” in a series of social media posts. He praised mediation efforts by Pakistan and Gulf allies, while rejecting assistance from NATO, urging the alliance to “STAY AWAY.” In a phone interview with AFP, Trump reiterated his confidence in the negotiations. "Looks like it's going to be very good for everybody. And we're very close to having a deal," he said, adding that there were "no sticking points at all" remaining with Tehran.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf issued a warning to Donald Trump, saying that if the naval blockade continues on the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran will close it

'Iran will close Strait of Hormuz if US blockade not lifted': Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf's message to Trump

US President Donald Trump said in an interview with news agency Reuters that the United States is planning to collaborate with Iran to recover its enriched uranium and transport it back to the US. "We're going to get it together. We're ‌going to go in with Iran, at a nice leisurely pace, and go down and start excavating with big machinery... We'll bring it back to the United States," Trump said during a phone interview.&nbsp;He also referred to "nuclear dust," claiming it would be retrieved "very soon." The term appeared to describe remnants following reported U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last year. Iran, however, strongly rejected the claim. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said there was no agreement to transfer uranium.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-sanctions-7-iraqi-militia-commanders-linked-to-iran-backed-groups-under-economic-fury-who-all-are-on-the-list-1776456245548">US sanctions 7 Iraqi militia commanders linked to Iran-backed groups under 'Economic Fury'. Who all are on the list</a>&nbsp;"Iran's enriched uranium is not ⁠going to be transferred anywhere; transferring uranium to the United States has not been an option for us," Baghaei told state television. Iran is estimated to possess over 900 pounds of uranium enriched up to 60% purity. The issue remains a central point of contention in ongoing US-Iran tensions, particularly concerning nuclear capabilities.&nbsp;Trump reiterated that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons was a key reason behind the conflict, while Iran maintains that its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful civilian purposes. He also said that the US would continue its naval blockade until a formal agreement is reached. "I think the deal will go very quickly. We're getting along very well with Iran," he said.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-fears-russia-building-satellite-killer-nuke-in-orbit-1776446962511/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-fears-russia-building-satellite-killer-nuke-in-orbit-1776446962511/embed</a>&nbsp;Trump added that further negotiations are expected soon. He noted that discussions could take place "probably over the weekend," and mentioned a possible visit to Islamabad after a deal is finalised. "I haven't made that determination," he said. Trump also revealed that the US is working with Iran to remove mines from the Strait of Hormuz. Dismissing reports of a potential $20 billion deal involving uranium transfer, Trump said: "It's totally false. No money is changing hands."

Trump claims US will retrieve Iran’s enriched uranium, but Iran denies any agreement. Talks continue amid nuclear tensions and Hormuz concerns

US President Donald Trump said in an interview with news agency Reuters that the United States is planning to collaborate with Iran to recover its enriched uranium and transport it back to the US. "We're going to get it together. We're ‌going to go in with Iran, at a nice leisurely pace, and go down and start excavating with big machinery... We'll bring it back to the United States," Trump said during a phone interview. He also referred to "nuclear dust," claiming it would be retrieved "very soon." The term appeared to describe remnants following reported U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last year. Iran, however, strongly rejected the claim. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said there was no agreement to transfer uranium. Also Read: US sanctions 7 Iraqi militia commanders linked to Iran-backed groups under 'Economic Fury'. Who all are on the list "Iran's enriched uranium is not ⁠going to be transferred anywhere; transferring uranium to the United States has not been an option for us," Baghaei told state television. Iran is estimated to possess over 900 pounds of uranium enriched up to 60% purity. The issue remains a central point of contention in ongoing US-Iran tensions, particularly concerning nuclear capabilities. Trump reiterated that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons was a key reason behind the conflict, while Iran maintains that its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful civilian purposes. He also said that the US would continue its naval blockade until a formal agreement is reached. "I think the deal will go very quickly. We're getting along very well with Iran," he said. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-fears-russia-building-satellite-killer-nuke-in-orbit-1776446962511/embed Trump added that further negotiations are expected soon. He noted that discussions could take place "probably over the weekend," and mentioned a possible visit to Islamabad after a deal is finalised. "I haven't made that determination," he said. Trump also revealed that the US is working with Iran to remove mines from the Strait of Hormuz. Dismissing reports of a potential $20 billion deal involving uranium transfer, Trump said: "It's totally false. No money is changing hands."

Trump says the US will recover Iran’s enriched uranium, Tehran denies any deal; talks ongoing amid nuclear tensions and Strait of Hormuz issues

'We're going to get it together at a nice leisurely pace': Trump says US will recover Iran’s enriched uranium, Iran denies transfer claim

The United States and Iran may soon come back to the table for talks, and this time, Pakistan is trying to help both sides move forward. There is fresh hope that discussions could reduce tensions and possibly stop the ongoing conflict in West Asia. But there is one big issue standing at the centre of everything — Iran wants access to its money that is frozen in different countries.This frozen money is not small. It is estimated to be over $100 billion (around ₹9.3 lakh crore). For any agreement to happen, Iran is likely to push strongly to get at least part of this money released.So, what exactly is this frozen money, and why does it matter so much?Frozen assets simply mean money or property that a country owns but cannot use. This happens because other countries or international bodies block access due to sanctions or legal reasons. In Iran’s case, much of this money is sitting in foreign banks, untouched.Earlier, Iran used to earn large amounts of foreign currency like dollars and euros through oil exports and trade. This money was stored in global banks as reserves. These reserves are important for any country because they help maintain the value of its currency and give confidence to its economy.But things changed after 1979. That year, a major crisis took place when American citizens were held inside the US embassy in Tehran for more than 400 days. This incident broke relations between the two countries. Soon after, the United States froze about $12 billion (around ₹1.12 lakh crore) of Iran’s assets.In 1981, an agreement called the Algiers Accords helped resolve the hostage crisis. Some of Iran’s money was released, and the hostages were freed. However, trust between the two countries never fully returned.Over the years, the US continued to impose sanctions on Iran, mainly because of concerns over its nuclear programme and missile development. These sanctions stopped Iran from accessing its money stored abroad.There were moments of relief. In 2014, Iran got access to $4.2 billion (around ₹39,000 crore) after an interim nuclear deal. In 2015, a bigger agreement called the JCPOA allowed Iran to use most of its overseas money again.But this did not last long. In 2018, the US withdrew from the deal and brought back strict sanctions. Once again, Iran’s money became locked.As highlighted in Firstpost, even in 2023, when both countries agreed on a prisoner swap, only $6 billion (around ₹55,800 crore) of Iran’s funds were released as part of that deal. Compared to the total amount, this was just a small portion.Today, Iran’s money is spread across many countries. Japan holds about $1.5 billion (around ₹13,950 crore), Iraq around $6 billion (around ₹55,800 crore), China about $20 billion (around ₹1,86,000 crore), and India around $7 billion (around ₹65,100 crore). The United States itself holds about $2 billion (around ₹18,600 crore), while European countries like Luxembourg have nearly $1.6 billion (around ₹14,880 crore).This money is not easy to access because banks and governments must follow international rules and US sanctions. Even if the money belongs to Iran, it cannot simply withdraw it.Now, why is Iran so desperate to get this money back?The answer is simple — its economy is under serious pressure.Due to years of sanctions, Iran’s oil exports have reduced, foreign investment has slowed down, and industries have struggled to grow. Inflation has become a major problem. In fact, it rose to 68.1% recently, one of the highest levels seen in decades.For a common person in Iran, this means daily life has become very expensive. Prices of basic goods rise quickly, and the value of their currency keeps falling.As also explained in Firstpost, unlocking this frozen money could change things significantly. Since this amount is almost one-fourth of Iran’s total economy, even partial access could bring big relief.With this money, Iran can stabilise its currency, reduce inflation, and rebuild important sectors like oil, electricity, and water systems. Many of these systems are old and need urgent repair.It would also help Iran pay foreign companies, restart projects, and create jobs. For ordinary people, this could mean better services, more stability, and fewer sudden economic shocks.There is also a social angle. In recent times, Iran has seen protests due to rising prices and economic struggles. If the government gets access to its funds, it may help rebuild public trust and reduce unrest.Right now, Iran is reportedly asking for at least $6 billion (around ₹55,800 crore) as a first step during the talks. This is being seen as a trust-building move.Whether the United States agrees or not will play a huge role in deciding the future of these discussions. If some money is released, it could open the door for a broader agreement. If not, tensions may continue.In simple terms, this is not just about money. It is about economic survival for Iran and a possible path to peace in a region that has seen long periods of conflict.What happens next will depend on how both sides balance trust, pressure, and practical needs. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Today, Iran’s money is spread across many countries. Japan holds about $1.5 billion (around ₹13,950 crore), Iraq around $6 billion (around ₹55,800 crore), China about $20 billion (around ₹1,86,000 crore), and India around $7 billion (around ₹65,100 crore). 

The United States and Iran may soon come back to the table for talks, and this time, Pakistan is trying to help both sides move forward. There is fresh hope that discussions could reduce tensions and possibly stop the ongoing conflict in West Asia. But there is one big issue standing at the centre of everything — Iran wants access to its money that is frozen in different countries. This frozen money is not small. It is estimated to be over $100 billion (around ₹9.3 lakh crore). For any agreement to happen, Iran is likely to push strongly to get at least part of this money released. So, what exactly is this frozen money, and why does it matter so much? Frozen assets simply mean money or property that a country owns but cannot use. This happens because other countries or international bodies block access due to sanctions or legal reasons. In Iran’s case, much of this money is sitting in foreign banks, untouched. Earlier, Iran used to earn large amounts of foreign currency like dollars and euros through oil exports and trade. This money was stored in global banks as reserves. These reserves are important for any country because they help maintain the value of its currency and give confidence to its economy. But things changed after 1979. That year, a major crisis took place when American citizens were held inside the US embassy in Tehran for more than 400 days. This incident broke relations between the two countries. Soon after, the United States froze about $12 billion (around ₹1.12 lakh crore) of Iran’s assets. In 1981, an agreement called the Algiers Accords helped resolve the hostage crisis. Some of Iran’s money was released, and the hostages were freed. However, trust between the two countries never fully returned. Over the years, the US continued to impose sanctions on Iran, mainly because of concerns over its nuclear programme and missile development. These sanctions stopped Iran from accessing its money stored abroad. There were moments of relief. In 2014, Iran got access to $4.2 billion (around ₹39,000 crore) after an interim nuclear deal. In 2015, a bigger agreement called the JCPOA allowed Iran to use most of its overseas money again. But this did not last long. In 2018, the US withdrew from the deal and brought back strict sanctions. Once again, Iran’s money became locked. As highlighted in Firstpost, even in 2023, when both countries agreed on a prisoner swap, only $6 billion (around ₹55,800 crore) of Iran’s funds were released as part of that deal. Compared to the total amount, this was just a small portion. Today, Iran’s money is spread across many countries. Japan holds about $1.5 billion (around ₹13,950 crore), Iraq around $6 billion (around ₹55,800 crore), China about $20 billion (around ₹1,86,000 crore), and India around $7 billion (around ₹65,100 crore). The United States itself holds about $2 billion (around ₹18,600 crore), while European countries like Luxembourg have nearly $1.6 billion (around ₹14,880 crore). This money is not easy to access because banks and governments must follow international rules and US sanctions. Even if the money belongs to Iran, it cannot simply withdraw it. Now, why is Iran so desperate to get this money back? The answer is simple — its economy is under serious pressure. Due to years of sanctions, Iran’s oil exports have reduced, foreign investment has slowed down, and industries have struggled to grow. Inflation has become a major problem. In fact, it rose to 68.1% recently, one of the highest levels seen in decades. For a common person in Iran, this means daily life has become very expensive. Prices of basic goods rise quickly, and the value of their currency keeps falling. As also explained in Firstpost, unlocking this frozen money could change things significantly. Since this amount is almost one-fourth of Iran’s total economy, even partial access could bring big relief. With this money, Iran can stabilise its currency, reduce inflation, and rebuild important sectors like oil, electricity, and water systems. Many of these systems are old and need urgent repair. It would also help Iran pay foreign companies, restart projects, and create jobs. For ordinary people, this could mean better services, more stability, and fewer sudden economic shocks. There is also a social angle. In recent times, Iran has seen protests due to rising prices and economic struggles. If the government gets access to its funds, it may help rebuild public trust and reduce unrest. Right now, Iran is reportedly asking for at least $6 billion (around ₹55,800 crore) as a first step during the talks. This is being seen as a trust-building move. Whether the United States agrees or not will play a huge role in deciding the future of these discussions. If some money is released, it could open the door for a broader agreement. If not, tensions may continue. In simple terms, this is not just about money. It is about economic survival for Iran and a possible path to peace in a region that has seen long periods of conflict. What happens next will depend on how both sides balance trust, pressure, and practical needs. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Today, Iran’s money is spread across many countries. Japan holds about $1.5 billion (around ₹13,950 crore), Iraq around $6 billion (around ₹55,800 crore), China about $20 billion (around ₹1,86,000 crore), and India around $7 billion (around ₹65,100 crore).&nbsp;

Frozen billions: Iran’s money and peace talks explained

President Donald Trump said a deal with Iran could be reached soon, stressing that Tehran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. “Iran wants to make a deal, and we’re dealing very nicely with them. We’ve got to have no nuclear weapon … that’s a big factor. And they’re willing to do things today that they weren’t willing to do two months ago,” the president said while taking questions at the White House on Thursday (April 16).&nbsp;Trump expressed optimism about ongoing negotiations, adding, “It’s looking very good that we’re going to make a deal with Iran, and it’s going to be a good deal. It’s going to be a deal with no nuclear weapons.” He repeatedly insisted that Iran had agreed to the central condition of the talks. He also claimed Tehran has agreed to return nuclear material linked to its underground facilities.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-the-israel-lebanon-ceasefire-happened-in-48-hours-timeline-key-terms-what-the-deal-includes-and-what-happens-next-1776367347301">How the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire happened in 48 hours: Timeline, key terms, what the deal includes and what happens next</a>&nbsp;The president said, “Iran agreed to give us back the nuclear dust that’s way underground because of the attack we made with the B2 bombers,” likely referring to enriched uranium. “So, we have a lot of agreement with Iran.” Trump also suggested that the next round of in-person negotiations could take place soon.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-threatens-severe-consequences-as-us-sends-more-troops-to-west-asia-1776359681672/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-threatens-severe-consequences-as-us-sends-more-troops-to-west-asia-1776359681672/embed</a>&nbsp;Asked about timing, he said talks would “probably” happen over the weekend. Addressing questions about long-term limits on uranium enrichment, Trump said, “We have a statement, very powerful statement that they will not have, beyond 20 years, that they will not have nuclear weapons … there’s no 20-year limit.”&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations, and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformhttps://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-threatens-severe-consequences-as-us-sends-more-troops-to-west-asia-1776359681672/embedation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.

Trump says a nuclear deal with Iran is “looking very good,” insists no nuclear weapons will be allowed, and says next talks could happen “over the weekend"

President Donald Trump said a deal with Iran could be reached soon, stressing that Tehran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. “Iran wants to make a deal, and we’re dealing very nicely with them. We’ve got to have no nuclear weapon … that’s a big factor. And they’re willing to do things today that they weren’t willing to do two months ago,” the president said while taking questions at the White House on Thursday (April 16). Trump expressed optimism about ongoing negotiations, adding, “It’s looking very good that we’re going to make a deal with Iran, and it’s going to be a good deal. It’s going to be a deal with no nuclear weapons.” He repeatedly insisted that Iran had agreed to the central condition of the talks. He also claimed Tehran has agreed to return nuclear material linked to its underground facilities. Also Read: How the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire happened in 48 hours: Timeline, key terms, what the deal includes and what happens next The president said, “Iran agreed to give us back the nuclear dust that’s way underground because of the attack we made with the B2 bombers,” likely referring to enriched uranium. “So, we have a lot of agreement with Iran.” Trump also suggested that the next round of in-person negotiations could take place soon. https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-threatens-severe-consequences-as-us-sends-more-troops-to-west-asia-1776359681672/embed Asked about timing, he said talks would “probably” happen over the weekend. Addressing questions about long-term limits on uranium enrichment, Trump said, “We have a statement, very powerful statement that they will not have, beyond 20 years, that they will not have nuclear weapons … there’s no 20-year limit.” Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations, and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformhttps://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-threatens-severe-consequences-as-us-sends-more-troops-to-west-asia-1776359681672/embedation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.

US president Trump says Iran deal is close, insists ‘no nuclear weapon’ will be allowed, and says next talks could happen ‘over the weekend’

'No nuclear weapon': Trump says Iran deal is near, talks 'over the weekend'

Reports suggest that a recent Iranian offer discussed during peace negotiations with the United States forms part of a broader set of proposals exchanged through mediators as efforts continue to end hostilities. The proposals reportedly include issues related to sanctions relief, maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz, and security guarantees, reflecting ongoing diplomatic attempts to shape a framework for a possible agreement.


Iran War | Report: Iran Offers Safe Shipping Via Oman; Offer Contingent on Deal With US

Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir is expected to travel to Washington after a key visit to Tehran, as Islamabad intensifies efforts to revive stalled talks between Iran and the United States. Acting as a crucial mediator, Pakistan has been relaying messages between both sides following failed negotiations. The diplomatic push comes as hopes rise for a second round of talks to stabilise the region and extend the fragile ceasefire.


BREAKING: Pakistan Army Chief Heads To US After Iran Visit, Pushes Fresh Iran-US Talks

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Sunday (April 12) said Tehran would not bow to pressure after Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz following stalled talks in Pakistan.&nbsp;Speaking after returning from Islamabad, where he led negotiations with the United States, Ghalibaf struck a defiant tone. “If they fight, we will fight, and if they come forward with logic, we will deal with logic. We will not bow to any threats. Let them test our will once again so that we can teach them a bigger lesson,” he told reporters, according to Iranian media.&nbsp;His remarks came hours after Trump announced a sweeping naval move following the failure of talks in Islamabad. “Effective immediately, the United States Navy… will begin the process of blockading any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, adding that “at some point, we will reach an ‘all being allowed to go in, all being allowed to go out’ basis.”&nbsp;The statement marked a sharp escalation in tensions in the region, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a critical global oil transit route.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-threatens-china-with-50-tariff-over-iran-support-warns-tehran-of-devastation-1776013227558">Trump threatens China with 50% tariff over Iran support, warns Tehran of ‘devastation’</a>&nbsp;Iran’s navy chief Shahram Irani dismissed the US move as unrealistic, calling Trump’s threat “ridiculous”. “The brave men of the naval force of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran are monitoring and supervising all the movements of the aggressive American army in the region. The threats of the US president to blockade Iran at sea are very ridiculous and funny,” he said, according to state television.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian signalled conditional openness to diplomacy while criticising Washington’s stance. “If the American government abandons its totalitarianism and respects the rights of the Iranian nation, ways to reach an agreement will certainly be found,” he said.&nbsp;Pezeshkian also praised the negotiating team, including Ghalibaf, for their efforts, even as the talks failed to produce a breakthrough. The developments underline rising tensions in West Asia after negotiations between Tehran and Washington ended without a deal, raising concerns over further escalation in the strategically vital region.

Iran’s navy chief Shahram Irani dismissed the US move as unrealistic, calling Trump’s threat “ridiculous”. 

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Sunday (April 12) said Tehran would not bow to pressure after Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz following stalled talks in Pakistan. Speaking after returning from Islamabad, where he led negotiations with the United States, Ghalibaf struck a defiant tone. “If they fight, we will fight, and if they come forward with logic, we will deal with logic. We will not bow to any threats. Let them test our will once again so that we can teach them a bigger lesson,” he told reporters, according to Iranian media. His remarks came hours after Trump announced a sweeping naval move following the failure of talks in Islamabad. “Effective immediately, the United States Navy… will begin the process of blockading any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, adding that “at some point, we will reach an ‘all being allowed to go in, all being allowed to go out’ basis.” The statement marked a sharp escalation in tensions in the region, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a critical global oil transit route. Also Read: Trump threatens China with 50% tariff over Iran support, warns Tehran of ‘devastation’ Iran’s navy chief Shahram Irani dismissed the US move as unrealistic, calling Trump’s threat “ridiculous”. “The brave men of the naval force of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran are monitoring and supervising all the movements of the aggressive American army in the region. The threats of the US president to blockade Iran at sea are very ridiculous and funny,” he said, according to state television. Meanwhile, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian signalled conditional openness to diplomacy while criticising Washington’s stance. “If the American government abandons its totalitarianism and respects the rights of the Iranian nation, ways to reach an agreement will certainly be found,” he said. Pezeshkian also praised the negotiating team, including Ghalibaf, for their efforts, even as the talks failed to produce a breakthrough. The developments underline rising tensions in West Asia after negotiations between Tehran and Washington ended without a deal, raising concerns over further escalation in the strategically vital region.

Iran’s navy chief Shahram Irani dismissed the US move as unrealistic, calling Trump’s threat “ridiculous”.&nbsp;

Iran says it ‘will not bow to any threats’ after Trump orders Hormuz blockade

United States President Donald Trump on Sunday (April 12) blamed the failed the talks in Islamabad, Pakistan on Iran for its &nbsp;insistence on not giving up its "nuclear ambitions". He also ephasised that Iran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as promised and laid mines in the waters, effectively making the passage of ships impossible.&nbsp;Taking to Truth Social, Trump wrote, "So, there you have it, the meeting went well, most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not."&nbsp;Speaking about the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said "There may be a mine out there somewhere," that nobody knows about but them. THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted."&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-failed-us-iran-negotiation-putin-calls-up-tehran-offers-to-mediate-1776002893312">Amid failed US-Iran negotiation, Putin calls up Tehran, offers to mediate</a>&nbsp;He then said, "The meeting with Iran began early in the morning, and lasted throughout the night - Close to 20 hours. I could go into great detail, and talk about much that has been gotten but, there is only one thing that matters - IRAN IS UNWILLING TO GIVE UP ITS NUCLEAR AMBITIONS!Trump said he would prefer military action against Iran to continue rather than “allowing Nuclear Power in the hands of such volatile, &nbsp;people.”&nbsp;"In many ways, the points that were agreed to are better than us continuing our Military Operations to conclusion, but all of those points don't matter compared to allowing Nuclear Power to be in the hands of such volatile, difficult, unpredictable people. My three Representatives, as all of this time went by, became, not surprisingly, very friendly and respectful of Iran's Representatives, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Abbas Araghchi, and Ali Bagheri, but that doesn't matter because they were very unyielding as to the single most important issue and, as I have always said, right from the beginning, and many years ago, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!" he said.&nbsp;The Iran war started with US, Israeli defence forces launching an air strike on Iran on February 28. Iran responded by attacking US bases in the Middle East. US' allies like the UAE have also been targeted by Iran.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Taking to Truth Social, Trump wrote, So, there you have it, the meeting went well, most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not.

United States President Donald Trump on Sunday (April 12) blamed the failed the talks in Islamabad, Pakistan on Iran for its insistence on not giving up its "nuclear ambitions". He also ephasised that Iran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as promised and laid mines in the waters, effectively making the passage of ships impossible. Taking to Truth Social, Trump wrote, "So, there you have it, the meeting went well, most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not." Speaking about the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said "There may be a mine out there somewhere," that nobody knows about but them. THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted." ALSO READ: Amid failed US-Iran negotiation, Putin calls up Tehran, offers to mediate He then said, "The meeting with Iran began early in the morning, and lasted throughout the night - Close to 20 hours. I could go into great detail, and talk about much that has been gotten but, there is only one thing that matters - IRAN IS UNWILLING TO GIVE UP ITS NUCLEAR AMBITIONS! Trump said he would prefer military action against Iran to continue rather than “allowing Nuclear Power in the hands of such volatile, people.” "In many ways, the points that were agreed to are better than us continuing our Military Operations to conclusion, but all of those points don't matter compared to allowing Nuclear Power to be in the hands of such volatile, difficult, unpredictable people. My three Representatives, as all of this time went by, became, not surprisingly, very friendly and respectful of Iran's Representatives, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Abbas Araghchi, and Ali Bagheri, but that doesn't matter because they were very unyielding as to the single most important issue and, as I have always said, right from the beginning, and many years ago, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!" he said. The Iran war started with US, Israeli defence forces launching an air strike on Iran on February 28. Iran responded by attacking US bases in the Middle East. US' allies like the UAE have also been targeted by Iran.

Taking to Truth Social, Trump wrote, "So, there you have it, the meeting went well, most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not."

Why US-Iran talks failed? Trump lays out two reasons for disagreement. Here's what he said

Amid failed US-Iran talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, Russian President Vladimir Putin called up his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday and assessed the Iranian-American talks held in Islamabad on April 11. He also offered to mediate and bring stability and peace to the &nbsp;Middle East that is suffering in the conflict, said Kremlin.&nbsp;"Vladimir Putin emphasised his readiness to further facilitate the search for a political and diplomatic settlement to the conflict, and to mediate efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East," the Kremlin said in its readout of the call.&nbsp;This come after Us and Iran failed to reach to a conclusion to end the war. After the meet ended US Vice President JD Vance said Washington had “not heard a positive Iranian commitment regarding nuclear weapons”.&nbsp;While Iran said US was unable to gain the trust of the Iranian delegation after more than 20 hours of negotiations in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.&nbsp;Taking to X &nbsp;Iran Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote, “My colleagues raised forward-looking initiatives, but the opposite side ultimately failed to win the trust of the Iranian delegation in this round of negotiations."&nbsp;The Iranian embassy in Ghana also hit it out at US saying, “The US flew their Vice President halfway across the world to Islamabad. 21 hours of talks. They demanded everything they couldn't achieve through war. Iran said a BIG NO. The talks are over. The Strait is still closed. And the VP is flying home empty-handed. Just Iran's word. Again. They don't have any option left to save face.”<h2>Status of Strait of Hormuz will not change</h2>&nbsp;Meanwhile, the status of the Strait of Hormuz, that was one of the major areas of discussion, will remain unchanged until Washington and Tehran shape a common stance for continuing the talks, reported CNN, citing Iranian source. "Iran is in no hurry," said the source adding "the status of the Strait of Hormuz will remain unchanged."&nbsp;He also said that the number of ships that are allowed to pass through the strait will remain the same.&nbsp;"Even the number of ships that had been agreed upon will not be able to pass," said the source to the news outlet.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

After the meet ended in Islamabad US Vice President JD Vance said Washington had “not heard a positive Iranian commitment regarding nuclear weapons”.

Amid failed US-Iran talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, Russian President Vladimir Putin called up his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday and assessed the Iranian-American talks held in Islamabad on April 11. He also offered to mediate and bring stability and peace to the Middle East that is suffering in the conflict, said Kremlin. "Vladimir Putin emphasised his readiness to further facilitate the search for a political and diplomatic settlement to the conflict, and to mediate efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East," the Kremlin said in its readout of the call. This come after Us and Iran failed to reach to a conclusion to end the war. After the meet ended US Vice President JD Vance said Washington had “not heard a positive Iranian commitment regarding nuclear weapons”. While Iran said US was unable to gain the trust of the Iranian delegation after more than 20 hours of negotiations in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. Taking to X Iran Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote, “My colleagues raised forward-looking initiatives, but the opposite side ultimately failed to win the trust of the Iranian delegation in this round of negotiations." The Iranian embassy in Ghana also hit it out at US saying, “The US flew their Vice President halfway across the world to Islamabad. 21 hours of talks. They demanded everything they couldn't achieve through war. Iran said a BIG NO. The talks are over. The Strait is still closed. And the VP is flying home empty-handed. Just Iran's word. Again. They don't have any option left to save face.” Status of Strait of Hormuz will not change Meanwhile, the status of the Strait of Hormuz, that was one of the major areas of discussion, will remain unchanged until Washington and Tehran shape a common stance for continuing the talks, reported CNN, citing Iranian source. "Iran is in no hurry," said the source adding "the status of the Strait of Hormuz will remain unchanged." He also said that the number of ships that are allowed to pass through the strait will remain the same. "Even the number of ships that had been agreed upon will not be able to pass," said the source to the news outlet.

After the meet ended in Islamabad US Vice President JD Vance said Washington had “not heard a positive Iranian commitment regarding nuclear weapons”.

Amid failed US-Iran negotiation, Putin calls up Tehran, offers to mediate

Ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran on Saturday (April 11), mediated by Pakistan, failed to yield result. After the meet ended US Vice President JD Vance said that negotiators were unable to reach an agreement acceptable to both sides. &nbsp;After inconclusive talks, the blame &nbsp;game has begun with Iran saying US was unable to gain Tehran's trust.&nbsp;“My colleagues raised forward-looking initiatives, but the opposite side ultimately failed to win the trust of the Iranian delegation in this round of negotiations,” wrote Iran Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, on X &nbsp;after more than 20 hours of negotiations in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad failed to yield any result.&nbsp;"I am grateful for the effort of Pakistan in facilitating the process of these negotiations," he further wrote.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/status-of-strait-of-hormuz-will-remain-unchanged-only-limited-ships-to-be-allowed-after-us-iran-talks-fail-report-1775989401236">Status of Strait of Hormuz will remain unchanged, only limited ships to be allowed after US-Iran talks fail: Report</a>&nbsp;According to Iran’s Fars news agency, the outcome of the negotiations depends on Washington “changing unreasonable demands”, particularly on contentious issues such as the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s peaceful nuclear programme. The agency reported that experts from both sides are working to find common ground, while a Pakistani mediator is attempting to narrow the differences and bring the positions closer together.&nbsp;While the the Iranian embassy in Ghana took to X to it out at us, &nbsp;“The US flew their Vice President halfway across the world to Islamabad. 21 hours of talks. They demanded everything they couldn't achieve through war. Iran said a BIG NO. The talks are over. The Strait is still closed. And the VP is flying home empty-handed. Just Iran's word. Again. They don't have any option left to save face.”&nbsp;

Experts from both sides (US and Iran) are working to find common ground, while a Pakistani mediator is attempting to narrow the differences and bring the positions closer together.

Ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran on Saturday (April 11), mediated by Pakistan, failed to yield result. After the meet ended US Vice President JD Vance said that negotiators were unable to reach an agreement acceptable to both sides. After inconclusive talks, the blame game has begun with Iran saying US was unable to gain Tehran's trust. “My colleagues raised forward-looking initiatives, but the opposite side ultimately failed to win the trust of the Iranian delegation in this round of negotiations,” wrote Iran Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, on X after more than 20 hours of negotiations in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad failed to yield any result. "I am grateful for the effort of Pakistan in facilitating the process of these negotiations," he further wrote. ALSO READ: Status of Strait of Hormuz will remain unchanged, only limited ships to be allowed after US-Iran talks fail: Report According to Iran’s Fars news agency, the outcome of the negotiations depends on Washington “changing unreasonable demands”, particularly on contentious issues such as the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s peaceful nuclear programme. The agency reported that experts from both sides are working to find common ground, while a Pakistani mediator is attempting to narrow the differences and bring the positions closer together. While the the Iranian embassy in Ghana took to X to it out at us, “The US flew their Vice President halfway across the world to Islamabad. 21 hours of talks. They demanded everything they couldn't achieve through war. Iran said a BIG NO. The talks are over. The Strait is still closed. And the VP is flying home empty-handed. Just Iran's word. Again. They don't have any option left to save face.”

Experts from both sides (US and Iran) are working to find common ground, while a Pakistani mediator is attempting to narrow the differences and bring the positions closer together.

US failed to win trust of Iranian delegation: Parliament speaker after failed talks

Ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan, have failed to produce a breakthrough, with US Vice President JD Vance confirming that negotiators were unable to reach an agreement acceptable to both sides. The high-stakes discussions between Washington and Tehran began on Saturday (April 11) afternoon in Islamabad, but ended without progress, dealing a significant diplomatic setback to Pakistan, which had positioned itself as a key intermediary in efforts to defuse tensions.&nbsp;According to officials cited in the talks, the collapse of negotiations has exposed Pakistan to what analysts describe as a “nightmare scenario”, where it faces simultaneous pressure from global alliances, regional security risks and internal instability.&nbsp;Pakistan finds itself in a precarious position between the United States, a longstanding partner providing financial assistance and security cooperation, and neighbouring Iran, whose conflict with Washington could have far-reaching consequences for Islamabad. Government sources indicate that both the Pakistani Prime Minister and the Army Chief had been pushing for a diplomatic breakthrough to avoid precisely such an outcome.<h2>Military commitments raise stakes</h2>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-to-uphold-ceasefire-commitment-pakistan-breaks-silence-after-inconclusive-iran-us-talks-in-islamabad-1775969883662">Pakistan breaks silence after inconclusive Iran-US talks in Islamabad</a>&nbsp;Complicating the situation further, Pakistan has recently deployed fighter jets and troops to Saudi Arabia under the 2025 Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement. The move, confirmed by defence officials, obligates Pakistan to defend Saudi territory in the event of an external threat.&nbsp;With the US-Iran talks now stalled, any escalation in hostilities could compel Pakistan to honour this commitment, effectively drawing its military into a wider regional conflict.<h2>Airbase dilemma and risk of retaliation</h2>Security experts warn that a breakdown in diplomacy could prompt Washington to revive military options against Iran. This may include seeking access to Pakistani airbases, particularly in Balochistan, to conduct strikes on Iranian targets. Such a move carries significant risks. Iranian authorities have previously warned that any country allowing its territory to be used for US military operations would be treated as a hostile actor. Analysts caution that Pakistan could face retaliatory strikes, including ballistic missiles and drone attacks, if it grants such access.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/where-was-us-president-trump-as-jd-vance-negotiated-with-iranians-in-pakistan-1775960909468">'Deal or not, no difference to me': Where was Trump as Vance led Iran talks?</a><h2>Fears of internal unrest</h2>Beyond external threats, the situation also raises concerns about domestic stability. Pakistan is home to one of the world’s largest Shia populations, and any perception of siding against Iran could inflame sectarian tensions. Observers warn that this could trigger widespread unrest and potentially lead to prolonged internal conflict in major urban centres.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-outcome-depends-on-us-changing-unreasonable-demands-iran-after-vance-announces-bad-news-of-failed-talks-in-islamabad-1775961905726">‘Outcome depends on US changing unreasonable demands’: Iran</a>

US-Iran talks in Islamabad collapsed, leaving Pakistan in a “nightmare scenario” facing geopolitical pressure, military obligations to Saudi Arabia, risk of retaliation, and potential internal unrest amid rising regional tensions.

Ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan, have failed to produce a breakthrough, with US Vice President JD Vance confirming that negotiators were unable to reach an agreement acceptable to both sides. The high-stakes discussions between Washington and Tehran began on Saturday (April 11) afternoon in Islamabad, but ended without progress, dealing a significant diplomatic setback to Pakistan, which had positioned itself as a key intermediary in efforts to defuse tensions. According to officials cited in the talks, the collapse of negotiations has exposed Pakistan to what analysts describe as a “nightmare scenario”, where it faces simultaneous pressure from global alliances, regional security risks and internal instability. Pakistan finds itself in a precarious position between the United States, a longstanding partner providing financial assistance and security cooperation, and neighbouring Iran, whose conflict with Washington could have far-reaching consequences for Islamabad. Government sources indicate that both the Pakistani Prime Minister and the Army Chief had been pushing for a diplomatic breakthrough to avoid precisely such an outcome. Military commitments raise stakes Also read: Pakistan breaks silence after inconclusive Iran-US talks in Islamabad Complicating the situation further, Pakistan has recently deployed fighter jets and troops to Saudi Arabia under the 2025 Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement. The move, confirmed by defence officials, obligates Pakistan to defend Saudi territory in the event of an external threat. With the US-Iran talks now stalled, any escalation in hostilities could compel Pakistan to honour this commitment, effectively drawing its military into a wider regional conflict. Airbase dilemma and risk of retaliation Security experts warn that a breakdown in diplomacy could prompt Washington to revive military options against Iran. This may include seeking access to Pakistani airbases, particularly in Balochistan, to conduct strikes on Iranian targets. Such a move carries significant risks. Iranian authorities have previously warned that any country allowing its territory to be used for US military operations would be treated as a hostile actor. Analysts caution that Pakistan could face retaliatory strikes, including ballistic missiles and drone attacks, if it grants such access. Also read: 'Deal or not, no difference to me': Where was Trump as Vance led Iran talks? Fears of internal unrest Beyond external threats, the situation also raises concerns about domestic stability. Pakistan is home to one of the world’s largest Shia populations, and any perception of siding against Iran could inflame sectarian tensions. Observers warn that this could trigger widespread unrest and potentially lead to prolonged internal conflict in major urban centres. Also read: ‘Outcome depends on US changing unreasonable demands’: Iran

US-Iran talks in Islamabad collapsed, leaving Pakistan in a “nightmare scenario” facing geopolitical pressure, military obligations to Saudi Arabia, risk of retaliation, and potential internal unrest amid rising regional tensions.

Caught in the Middle: Pakistan’s worst-case scenario unfolds after US-Iran talks collapse

US Vice President JD Vance and officials Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have met Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad ahead of possible direct talks with Iran. If confirmed, they would be the highest-level in-person talks between the US and Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.


US-Iran Talks: US V-P JD Vance & Mohammad-Bagher-Ghalibaf Lead Crucial Peace Talks

U.S. President Donald Trump on ​Saturday posted on social media that the United States ‌military has started to clear the Strait of Hormuz, and that all of Iran's minelaying ships have been sunk.
"We're now starting the ​process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz," ​Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, adding that "all ⁠28" of Iran's "mine dropper boats are also lying at ​the bottom of the sea".

US-Iran War | Trump: US Initiating The Process of Clearing Strait of Hormuz

US-Iran Talks: US VP JD Vance Meets Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif Ahead of Iran Talks

A senior Iranian source said on Saturday the U.S. had agreed to release Iranian frozen assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks, welcoming ​the move as a sign of "seriousness" in reaching a deal with Washington in talks ‌in Islamabad.
The source, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters that unfreezing the assets was "directly linked to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz", which is expected to be ​a key issue in the talks.

US-Iran Truce Talks: Iran Says Talks Will Not Begin Unless US Accepts Its Conditions

US President Donald Trump has intensified rhetoric against Iran, claiming that its only remaining leverage is control over the Strait of Hormuz. He accused Tehran of relying on “extortion” tactics as tensions continue to rise over shipping routes and energy security. The remarks come amid ongoing disputes over maritime control, toll proposals, and broader geopolitical negotiations affecting global oil flows and regional stability.


US-Iran Talks: Trump Issues Ultimatum To NATO To Help in Opening Strait of Hormuz

Pakistan hosts crucial Iran–US talks in Islamabad to extend a fragile ceasefire after a deadly war that disrupted global oil markets

Pakistan mediates crucial US–Iran talks to extend a fragile ceasefire after a deadly war that disrupted global oil markets. Here are five things you should know about it

Five things to know about the US-Iran talks in Islamabad today

US President Donald Trump said on Friday (April 10) he intends to ensure the Strait of Hormuz is opened ‘with or without’ Iran’s cooperation, while emphasising that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains his top priority. Trump also said he has sent Vice President JD Vance to Pakistan to meet senior Iranian officials as part of efforts to negotiate a peace deal following a two-week ceasefire agreed on Tuesday.&nbsp;Speaking to reporters before leaving Washington for a domestic trip, Trump said, “We're going to open up the Gulf with or without them...or the strait as they call it. I think it's going to go pretty quickly, and if it doesn't, we’ll be able to finish it off.” “We will have that open fairly soon.” He added that reopening the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global crude oil passes, would be a key focus in the Islamabad talks. When asked what would define a successful agreement, Trump said, "No nuclear weapon. That's 99 percent of it."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-iran-talks-in-pakistan-iranian-delegation-arrives-in-islamabad-says-negotiations-begin-only-if-us-meets-preconditions-1775853400018">US-Iran talks in Pakistan: Iranian delegation arrives in Islamabad, says negotiations begin only if US meets ‘preconditions’</a>&nbsp;US President Donald Trump announced that Vice President JD Vance will lead a team for peace talks involving Iran, expressing confidence in the mission and the current trajectory of events. Speaking on the development, Trump said,"I wish him luck... They (Iran) are militarily defeated, and now we are going to open up the Gulf, with or without them... If it doesn't, we are going to finish it off, one way or the other; it is going well. The Navy and Air Force (of Iran) are gone, along with all the anti-aircraft systems, the leaders, and the whole place..."&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/jd-vance-warns-iran-raises-stakes-as-nervous-pakistan-hosts-talks-1775840379285/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/jd-vance-warns-iran-raises-stakes-as-nervous-pakistan-hosts-talks-1775840379285/embed</a>

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations, and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.

Trump vows to open the Strait of Hormuz with or without Iran as JD Vance leads peace talks in Pakistan amid tensions over nuclear and Gulf security

US President Donald Trump said on Friday (April 10) he intends to ensure the Strait of Hormuz is opened ‘with or without’ Iran’s cooperation, while emphasising that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains his top priority. Trump also said he has sent Vice President JD Vance to Pakistan to meet senior Iranian officials as part of efforts to negotiate a peace deal following a two-week ceasefire agreed on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters before leaving Washington for a domestic trip, Trump said, “We're going to open up the Gulf with or without them...or the strait as they call it. I think it's going to go pretty quickly, and if it doesn't, we’ll be able to finish it off.” “We will have that open fairly soon.” He added that reopening the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global crude oil passes, would be a key focus in the Islamabad talks. When asked what would define a successful agreement, Trump said, "No nuclear weapon. That's 99 percent of it." Also Read: US-Iran talks in Pakistan: Iranian delegation arrives in Islamabad, says negotiations begin only if US meets ‘preconditions’ US President Donald Trump announced that Vice President JD Vance will lead a team for peace talks involving Iran, expressing confidence in the mission and the current trajectory of events. Speaking on the development, Trump said, "I wish him luck... They (Iran) are militarily defeated, and now we are going to open up the Gulf, with or without them... If it doesn't, we are going to finish it off, one way or the other; it is going well. The Navy and Air Force (of Iran) are gone, along with all the anti-aircraft systems, the leaders, and the whole place..." https://www.wionews.com/videos/jd-vance-warns-iran-raises-stakes-as-nervous-pakistan-hosts-talks-1775840379285/embed

US President Donald Trump vows to open the Strait of Hormuz with or without Iran, prioritising nuclear limits as talks continue after a ceasefire deal

'We will have that open fairly soon': Trump says on Strait of Hormuz as JD Vance-led delegation heads to Pakistan for US-Iran talks

An Iranian negotiating delegation headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf arrived in Islamabad on Friday (April 10) for peace talks with the United States, according to Iranian media reports, marking the beginning of a crucial diplomatic phase aimed at de-escalating ongoing tensions. “An Iranian negotiating delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf arrived in Islamabad on Friday for peace talks with the United States,” Iranian media said, adding that negotiations would proceed only if Washington accepted Tehran’s ‘preconditions’.&nbsp;The delegation reportedly includes senior political, military, and economic officials such as Iran’s foreign minister, the defence council secretary, the central bank governor, and several members of parliament. Their arrival in Islamabad comes ahead of anticipated direct discussions between Iranian and US representatives, with Pakistan hosting the&nbsp;talks amid fragile ceasefire conditions and ongoing mistrust between the two sides.<h2>Watch the Iranian delegation land in Pakistan</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Arrival of the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran for Islamabad Talks <a href="https://t.co/aJYU9cx5t2">pic.twitter.com/aJYU9cx5t2</a>&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/2042704328511889660?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/inside-palantir-s-ai-maven-how-the-system-helped-us-military-in-iran-strikes-know-all-about-it-1775851938303">Inside Palantir’s AI Maven: How the system helped the US military in Iran strikes. Know all about it</a>&nbsp;Tehran has emphasised that specific conditions must be fulfilled before formal negotiations start, including demands linked to regional security concerns and economic sanctions, reflecting its firm stance despite engaging in dialogue.<h2>Who are the key members of the Iranian delegation that have landed in Pakistan? See names below</h2><ul><li>Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf</li><li>Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi</li><li>Secretary of the Supreme National Defense Council Ali Akbar Ahmadian</li><li>Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati</li><li>Former IRGC commander Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr</li></ul>Besides the above names, several Iranian lawmakers have also joined the delegation, according to Iranian media.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-talks-with-lebanon-but-keeps-striking-hezbollah-1775840353340/emebed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-talks-with-lebanon-but-keeps-striking-hezbollah-1775840353340/emebed</a>&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations, and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.

Iranian delegation arrives in Islamabad for US talks hosted by Pakistan, but says negotiations will begin only if Washington meets Tehran’s preconditions amid fragile tensions

An Iranian negotiating delegation headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf arrived in Islamabad on Friday (April 10) for peace talks with the United States, according to Iranian media reports, marking the beginning of a crucial diplomatic phase aimed at de-escalating ongoing tensions. “An Iranian negotiating delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf arrived in Islamabad on Friday for peace talks with the United States,” Iranian media said, adding that negotiations would proceed only if Washington accepted Tehran’s ‘preconditions’. The delegation reportedly includes senior political, military, and economic officials such as Iran’s foreign minister, the defence council secretary, the central bank governor, and several members of parliament. Their arrival in Islamabad comes ahead of anticipated direct discussions between Iranian and US representatives, with Pakistan hosting the talks amid fragile ceasefire conditions and ongoing mistrust between the two sides. Watch the Iranian delegation land in Pakistan

Iran sends top officials to Islamabad for US peace talks, insisting negotiations depend on Tehran’s preconditions amid fragile ceasefire tensions

US-Iran talks in Pakistan: Iranian delegation arrives in Islamabad, says negotiations begin only if US meets 'preconditions'

Ahead of crucial talks with the United States, Tehran has taken a firm stance, demanding a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of its blocked assets before negotiations begin. With both sides far apart on key issues, including nuclear policy and regional conflicts, the upcoming discussions face serious uncertainty.


US-Iran Truce Talks: Will Islamabad Talks Bring Israeli-US War On Iran To A Close? 

President Donald Trump said on Friday that US warships are being reloaded with the best weaponry and stand ready to resume strikes on Iran if talks in Pakistan fail to produce a deal. “We have a reset going. We’re loading up the ships with the best ammunition, the best weapons ever made—even better than what we did previously and we blew them apart,” Trump told the New York Post in an interview.&nbsp;“But we’re loading up the ships. We’re loading up the ships with the best weapons ever made, even at a higher level than we use to do a complete decimation,” said Trump, adding, “And if we don’t have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-inflation-surges-to-near-two-year-high-as-energy-prices-spike-12-1775832116950">US inflation surges to near two-year high as energy prices spike 12%</a>&nbsp;“You’re dealing against people that we don’t know whether or not they tell the truth,” Trump told The Post.&nbsp;“To our face, they’re getting rid of all nuclear weapons, everything’s gone. And then they go out to the press and say, ‘No, we’d like to enrich.’ So we’ll find out.”&nbsp;<h2>‘World’s most powerful reset!‘</h2>&nbsp;Earlier, in a brief and cryptic message on Truth Social, Trump said, “World’s most powerful reset!”&nbsp;Speaking after Vice President JD Vance departed for Islamabad to lead the negotiations with Iran, Trump said, “We’re going to find out in about 24 hours. We’re going to know soon.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-fed-up-starmer-says-trump-and-putin-s-actions-pushing-up-energy-bills-for-britons-1775818986703">‘Fed up’ Starmer says Trump and Putin’s actions pushing up energy bills for Britons</a>&nbsp;The talks in Islamabad will commence amid a fragile two-week ceasefire.&nbsp;Vance boarded Air Force Two and will be joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in Islamabad to negotiate peace after a two-week ceasefire was announced on Tuesday.&nbsp;<h2>Araghchi, Ghalibaf likely to represent Iran in talks</h2>&nbsp;Iran is likely to be represented by foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, who insisted in pre-war talks that Iran had an inalienable right to enrich uranium, and the speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-bjp-will-implement-uniform-civil-code-in-6-months-give-rs-3-000-to-women-amit-shah-unveils-bengal-polls-manifesto-1775823812629">‘BJP will implement Uniform Civil Code in 6 months, give Rs 3,000 to women’: Amit Shah unveils Bengal polls manifesto</a>&nbsp;In the talks, the US is likely to demand that Iran hand over an estimated 1,000 pounds of deeply buried enriched uranium and continue the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.&nbsp;Trump has made it clear that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for free passage of ships is a critical component of any ceasefire deal. Only a few ships have passed through the strait since the US stopped bombing Iran.

Vice President JD Vance boarded Air Force Two and will be joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in Islamabad to negotiate peace. Iran is likely to be represented by foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and Iran parliament’s speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

President Donald Trump said on Friday that US warships are being reloaded with the best weaponry and stand ready to resume strikes on Iran if talks in Pakistan fail to produce a deal. “We have a reset going. We’re loading up the ships with the best ammunition, the best weapons ever made—even better than what we did previously and we blew them apart,” Trump told the New York Post in an interview. “But we’re loading up the ships. We’re loading up the ships with the best weapons ever made, even at a higher level than we use to do a complete decimation,” said Trump, adding, “And if we don’t have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively.” Also Read: US inflation surges to near two-year high as energy prices spike 12% “You’re dealing against people that we don’t know whether or not they tell the truth,” Trump told The Post. “To our face, they’re getting rid of all nuclear weapons, everything’s gone. And then they go out to the press and say, ‘No, we’d like to enrich.’ So we’ll find out.” ‘World’s most powerful reset!‘ Earlier, in a brief and cryptic message on Truth Social, Trump said, “World’s most powerful reset!” Speaking after Vice President JD Vance departed for Islamabad to lead the negotiations with Iran, Trump said, “We’re going to find out in about 24 hours. We’re going to know soon.” Also Read: ‘Fed up’ Starmer says Trump and Putin’s actions pushing up energy bills for Britons The talks in Islamabad will commence amid a fragile two-week ceasefire. Vance boarded Air Force Two and will be joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in Islamabad to negotiate peace after a two-week ceasefire was announced on Tuesday. Araghchi, Ghalibaf likely to represent Iran in talks Iran is likely to be represented by foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, who insisted in pre-war talks that Iran had an inalienable right to enrich uranium, and the speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Also Read: ‘BJP will implement Uniform Civil Code in 6 months, give Rs 3,000 to women’: Amit Shah unveils Bengal polls manifesto In the talks, the US is likely to demand that Iran hand over an estimated 1,000 pounds of deeply buried enriched uranium and continue the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. Trump has made it clear that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for free passage of ships is a critical component of any ceasefire deal. Only a few ships have passed through the strait since the US stopped bombing Iran.

Vice President JD Vance boarded Air Force Two and will be joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in Islamabad to negotiate peace. Iran is likely to be represented by foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and Iran parliament’s speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

‘US loading warships’: Trump warns of renewed strikes if Iran does not comply in peace talks

BREAKING: Tehran Demands US To Ensure Lebanon Truce & Release of Blocked Assets Ahead of Talks

A crucial diplomatic face-off is unfolding as Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf leads Iran’s delegation and JD Vance heads the US team in high-stakes ceasefire talks. The negotiations come amid deep mistrust, with Ghalibaf accusing Washington of violations and Vance downplaying expectations. With disagreements over Lebanon and nuclear rights, the outcome could shape the future of the fragile truce.


US-Iran Truce Talks: Will Talks in Islamabad Lead to End of War?

Delegations from the United States and Iran are scheduled to meet in Islamabad on Saturday, but the proposed talks risk unravelling before they begin. A tenuous two-week ceasefire has already come under strain, with renewed violence in Lebanon casting doubt over diplomatic momentum. Against this volatile backdrop, Tehran's parliament speaker has set out two clear preconditions, signalling that negotiations cannot proceed without tangible prior steps.&nbsp;<h2>Tehran’s two preconditions</h2>&nbsp;On Friday, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf explicitly outlined the country’s stance. Writing in English on X, he stated: “Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations.” He added unequivocally: “These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin.”&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/pluto-could-be-the-ninth-planet-again-10-year-old-s-letter-goes-viral-nasa-chief-reacts-1775827243191">Pluto could be the ninth planet again? 10-year-old’s letter goes viral, NASA chief reacts</a>&nbsp;The first demand centres on halting hostilities in Lebanon, where Israeli military operations against Hezbollah have intensified despite the broader ceasefire framework. However, the United States has maintained that Lebanon does not fall within the scope of its ceasefire understanding with Iran. The second demand relates to long-standing financial restrictions, with Tehran insisting on the release of its blocked overseas assets as a prerequisite for engagement. This condition reflects Iran’s continued push for tangible economic relief ahead of any formal negotiations, underscoring its position that substantive actions must precede diplomatic talks.&nbsp;These conditions reflect Tehran’s insistence on concrete actions rather than preliminary dialogue, effectively raising the stakes ahead of the Islamabad meeting.&nbsp;<h2>Ceasefire disputes and regional tensions</h2>ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/uss-abraham-lincoln-how-carrier-crews-keep-fighter-jets-mission-ready-for-months-at-sea-1775820012590">USS Abraham Lincoln: How carrier crews keep fighter jets mission-ready for months at sea</a>&nbsp;The demand for a Lebanon ceasefire comes amid escalating violence. Iranian officials have accused Israel of breaching agreed terms, pointing to continued strikes that reportedly killed over 300 people in a single day earlier this week. Israel, however, maintains that Lebanon was not formally included in the original ceasefire arrangement drafted with US involvement. Addressing the issue, US President Donald Trump had also told PBS News in an interview on Wednesday that Lebanon is “not part of the ceasefire agreement… because of Hezbollah,” while adding that the situation would nevertheless “get taken care of.” The conflict has widened since Hezbollah launched missiles at Israel on March 2, prompting intensified Israeli air strikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have reportedly been displaced as Israeli forces target areas it considers Hezbollah strongholds.&nbsp;<h2>Diplomatic uncertainty ahead</h2>&nbsp;Further complicating matters, Israeli and Lebanese officials are expected to meet in Washington next week as the United States attempts to stabilise the situation. The outcome of those discussions may prove critical in determining whether US-Iran talks can proceed. For now, Tehran’s conditions remain firm, leaving the planned Islamabad negotiations hanging in the balance.&nbsp;

Against this volatile backdrop, Tehran's parliament speaker has set out two clear preconditions, signalling that negotiations cannot proceed without tangible prior steps.

Delegations from the United States and Iran are scheduled to meet in Islamabad on Saturday, but the proposed talks risk unravelling before they begin. A tenuous two-week ceasefire has already come under strain, with renewed violence in Lebanon casting doubt over diplomatic momentum. Against this volatile backdrop, Tehran's parliament speaker has set out two clear preconditions, signalling that negotiations cannot proceed without tangible prior steps. Tehran’s two preconditions On Friday, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf explicitly outlined the country’s stance. Writing in English on X, he stated: “Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations.” He added unequivocally: “These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin.” ALSO READ: Pluto could be the ninth planet again? 10-year-old’s letter goes viral, NASA chief reacts The first demand centres on halting hostilities in Lebanon, where Israeli military operations against Hezbollah have intensified despite the broader ceasefire framework. However, the United States has maintained that Lebanon does not fall within the scope of its ceasefire understanding with Iran. The second demand relates to long-standing financial restrictions, with Tehran insisting on the release of its blocked overseas assets as a prerequisite for engagement. This condition reflects Iran’s continued push for tangible economic relief ahead of any formal negotiations, underscoring its position that substantive actions must precede diplomatic talks. These conditions reflect Tehran’s insistence on concrete actions rather than preliminary dialogue, effectively raising the stakes ahead of the Islamabad meeting. Ceasefire disputes and regional tensions ALSO READ: USS Abraham Lincoln: How carrier crews keep fighter jets mission-ready for months at sea The demand for a Lebanon ceasefire comes amid escalating violence. Iranian officials have accused Israel of breaching agreed terms, pointing to continued strikes that reportedly killed over 300 people in a single day earlier this week. Israel, however, maintains that Lebanon was not formally included in the original ceasefire arrangement drafted with US involvement. Addressing the issue, US President Donald Trump had also told PBS News in an interview on Wednesday that Lebanon is “not part of the ceasefire agreement… because of Hezbollah,” while adding that the situation would nevertheless “get taken care of.” The conflict has widened since Hezbollah launched missiles at Israel on March 2, prompting intensified Israeli air strikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have reportedly been displaced as Israeli forces target areas it considers Hezbollah strongholds. Diplomatic uncertainty ahead Further complicating matters, Israeli and Lebanese officials are expected to meet in Washington next week as the United States attempts to stabilise the situation. The outcome of those discussions may prove critical in determining whether US-Iran talks can proceed. For now, Tehran’s conditions remain firm, leaving the planned Islamabad negotiations hanging in the balance.

Against this volatile backdrop, Tehran's parliament speaker has set out two clear preconditions, signalling that negotiations cannot proceed without tangible prior steps.

US-Iran talks: Lebanon ceasefire, asset release—Tehran sets two key demands before negotiations in Pakistan

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