US and Iran Hold Fragile Ceasefire as High-Stakes Talks Begin

The United States and Iran are navigating a precarious ceasefire as high-stakes negotiations kick off in Islamabad. Leading the American team are Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. Their political calculus is clear: failure here could risk escalation that would rattle global energy markets and jeopardize stability ahead of U.S. midterm elections. For Washington, the stakes include avoiding catastrophic military options if diplomacy collapses. Tehran is equal