Iran-US Ceasefire Talks in Islamabad Live Updates: First phase of negotiations ends, another round tonight or tomorrow, says report
File photo of the Pre-Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) transiting the Atlantic Ocean during Builder’s Trials. (Photo: X/US Navy)
Iran-US War Ceasefire Talks In Islamabad Today News Live Updates: The three-way Islamabad Talks have begun. While the US is being represented by Steve Witkoff, J D Vance, Jared Kushner, Iran has sent Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf and Abbas Araghchi while Pakistan, which is mediating the meeting, has sent its Army chief. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said the US is in the process of clearing off mines from the Strait of Hormuz. However, the Iranian State TV reported that a US warship was given thirty minutes to back off and warned it would be attacked.
The eyes of the world are fixed on the Pakistani capital on Saturday, April 11, as high-level delegations from the United States and Iran converge for a “make-or-break” talks. Aimed at transforming a fragile, six-week-old ceasefire into a permanent end to the war, these talks represent the first direct diplomatic contact since the war erupted, threatening to engulf the wider Middle East.
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Leading the American contingent, Vice President JD Vance arrived Saturday morning carrying a message of cautious diplomacy backed by military posture. While Vance signalled an “open hand” for good-faith negotiations, President Donald Trump issued a characteristically blunt warning from Washington, stating that US warships are “loaded up” with ammunition should the Islamabad talks fail. “We’ll find out what’s going on,” Trump posted on Truth Social, suggesting a breakthrough, or a breakdown, could occur within 24 hours.
The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has already set a high bar for progress. Tehran is demanding an immediate cessation of Israeli strikes in Lebanon and the unfreezing of blocked assets as prerequisites for formal negotiations.
✦ FEBRUARY 28, 2026
Operation Epic Fury — The Opening Salvo
At 06:35 UTC, CENTCOM announced joint US-Israeli airstrikes against Iran — launched while nuclear negotiations were still underway. B-2 stealth bombers, B-1 Lancers and B-52 Stratofortresses struck missile sites, command-and-control infrastructure and radar installations. Israeli fighter jets carried out decapitation strikes, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at his residential compound. Iran retaliated within hours, launching hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel and US bases across six Gulf states. Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz, shutting off 20% of global oil supply.
✶
6
Gulf states hit by Iranian retaliation
✈
200+
Israeli jets in largest-ever combat sortie
⚓
20%
Global oil supply through Hormuz — now shut
★
Decapitation strikes
Khamenei and several top officials killed at his residential compound. Defence Minister Nasirzadeh and IRGC commander Pakpour also confirmed dead.
→
Iran’s retaliation
Hundreds of missiles and drones targeted Israel, US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. A drone struck Britain’s Akrotiri base on Cyprus.
⚓
Hormuz blockade
Iran’s IRGC Navy blew up 10 commercial vessels attempting to transit the strait. A critical chokepoint for ~20% of global oil was sealed shut.
→ Key Milestones — March 1 to April 7
✈ MAR 1 — DAY 2
Dubai airport damaged by Iranian drone strikes. Flights across the Middle East came to a near-complete halt. Iranian missiles hit Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
◆ MAR 6 — DAY 7
Trump posts on Truth Social demanding Iran’s “unconditional surrender.” Iran dismisses the statement.
★ MAR 7 — DAY 8
Assembly of Experts appoints Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the slain leader, as Iran’s new Supreme Leader — considered more hawkish than his father.
⛽ MID-MARCH — DAYS 15–20
Kharg Island — Iran’s oil export hub — bombed. UNHCR reports 3 million internally displaced. More than 30 universities struck. IRIS Dena frigate sunk by USS Charlotte near Sri Lanka.
● MAR 28 — DAY 29
CENTCOM confirms 11,000+ targets struck across Iran. Joint strikes hit Iran University of Science and Technology among civilian sites.
✶ APR 3 — DAY 35
US F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over Iran — first US fighter jet loss. Crew ejected; pilot rescued same day, weapons systems officer found alive 48 hours later. A-10 Warthog also downed near Strait of Hormuz.
⚖ APR 5 — DAY 37
Pakistan proposes 45-day ceasefire. Iran rejects it, submits its own 10-point peace plan instead. Trump threatens to destroy Iran’s power plants and bridges.
⏱ APR 7 — DAY 39
Trump issues deadline: total destruction of Iranian infrastructure if Hormuz not reopened by 8pm Washington time. Iran’s military calls threats “delusional.”
● Human Cost — As of April 8
✶
3,636
Killed in Iran (HRANA, Apr 7)
✶
1,784
Killed in Lebanon (Health Ministry)
↔
3M
Internally displaced in Iran
◆
13
US service members killed
◆
26
Killed in Israel
◆
28
Killed in Gulf states
● Global Fallout
⚓
Strait of Hormuz blockade
Closed since Feb 28. Post-ceasefire traffic at roughly 10% of normal. Over 600 vessels stranded in the Gulf region, per Lloyd’s List.
✈
Aviation disruption
Dubai International Airport damaged on Day 2, briefly halting all flights. Middle East air travel came to a near-complete stop.
⛽
Energy shock
Brent crude hit $119.50/barrel. Saudi SATORP refinery shut after attack. IEA released 400 million barrels from global reserves. US gas prices up 55 cents year-on-year.
✶
Hardware losses
US: F-15E and A-10 shot down; 5 refuelling tankers damaged at Prince Sultan Air Base. Iran: 19 warships sunk, 1 submarine destroyed, 30+ minelayers hit.
⚖ APRIL 7–8, 2026
Pakistan Brokers a Two-Week Truce
After 40 days of war, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif mediated a ceasefire between the US and Iran. Trump announced the suspension of attacks on condition Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council claimed “nearly all war objectives have been achieved.” Israel endorsed the truce with Iran but said it does not extend to Lebanon — a position Iran and Pakistan both dispute.
⚖ US Terms vs Iran’s 10-Point Plan
★ US DEMANDS
End nuclear program
Dismantle enrichment capability in exchange for civilian nuclear investment
✦ IRAN’S PLAN
Right to enrich uranium
Pledge not to build nuclear weapons, but retain enrichment capability
★ US DEMANDS
Reopen Hormuz freely
Full restoration of free international passage
✦ IRAN’S PLAN
Controlled passage
Transit coordinated with Iran’s armed forces; Iran and Oman charge fees for reconstruction
★ US DEMANDS
Cut proxy support
Restrict Iran’s backing of armed groups including Hezbollah
✦ IRAN’S PLAN
US troops out of Gulf
Full withdrawal of US combat forces from all regional bases
✦ ISLAMABAD TALKS — APR 10–11
High-Stakes Negotiations Begin
VP JD Vance, envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Islamabad on April 10. Iran’s delegation — led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and FM Abbas Araghchi — is using Tehran’s 10-point plan as the basis for talks. PM Sharif invited both sides to negotiate “a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes.”
✶ FLASHPOINT — LEBANON
Israel’s Offensive Threatens to Unravel the Truce
Israel launched massive airstrikes on Lebanon on the day the ceasefire was announced — killing 303 people on April 8 alone. Netanyahu insists the truce does not cover Lebanon. Iran has warned it may exit the ceasefire if attacks on Hezbollah continue. US-brokered Israel-Lebanon talks are expected in Washington next week.
⚓ HORMUZ STATUS
Strait Still Operating at a Trickle
Despite ceasefire terms requiring Iran to reopen the waterway, only about a dozen ships transited in the first two days. Shipping analysts say 600+ vessels remain stranded, and even at normal pace, clearing the backlog would take over 10 days. Iran says passage requires coordination with its armed forces.
Sources: Al Jazeera · CENTCOM · HRANA · TIME · CBS News · NBC News · NPR · CNN · Britannica · Lloyd’s List
Iran-US peace talks: Key developments to watch
- The ‘Vance Test’: The VP warned that Washington “won’t be receptive” if Iran attempts to stall or play for time.
- Lebanon escalation: Hezbollah’s rocket fire into northern Israel this morning threatens to derail the “pre-condition” ceasefire Iran is demanding.
- Islamabad lockdown: A total security “red zone” has been established, with the capital’s bustling streets deserted ahead of the noon meetings.
- Pakistan, the mediator: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is acting as the primary interlocutor, holding a series of “bridge-building” sessions with both teams today.
Stay with The Indian Express Global Desk for real-time updates, geolocated footage of the crash sites, and live reactions from the Pentagon and Tehran.
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