US and Iran hold first direct talks in Pakistan since 1979 amid Hormuz tensions

For the first time in over four decades, officials from the United States and Iran sat down for direct negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan, seeking to resolve a six-week standoff. The unprecedented talks mark a rare channel of dialogue between two nations deeply at odds, underscoring the urgency of de-escalating a conflict that has rattled the region. Meanwhile, US forces have begun operations to clear the Strait of Hormuz of mines, President Trump announced. The vital waterway, through which ne