US and Iranian delegations arrive in Pakistan for Middle East peace talks

US and Iranian delegations have arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, for negotiations aimed at ending the war in the Middle East. The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament President Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, whose country is mediating the discussions. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed hope for constructive participation from both sides. The agenda and format for the US-Iran talks are expected to be defined after this initial meeting. Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance, leading the American delegation, was welcomed by Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir. Ghalibaf stated Iran's good intentions but also expressed distrust, citing past failures in negotiations with the US. He indicated that talks would not begin until a ceasefire in Lebanon and the unblocking of Iranian assets are resolved. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned that a more difficult stage awaits, focusing on establishing lasting peace and resolving delicate issues diplomatically. Former US President Donald Trump, in an interview, threatened renewed strikes on Iran if the talks fail, while also asserting that the Strait of Hormuz would "soon" reopen. Separately, the Lebanese presidency announced a meeting with Israel in Washington to discuss a ceasefire between the Israeli army and pro-Iranian Hezbollah, following Israeli strikes in Lebanon that killed 357 people. Cybersecurity watchdog NetBlocks reported that an internet outage in Iran has now exc