Efforts to resume the talks are continuing with mediation by regional states. In Iran, an internal struggle is underway over the delegation’s authority and its ability to reach agreements. In the US, officials are signaling that they will not move forward without a change in Iranian conduct.
The IDF warned of possible increased fire from Lebanese territory during the talks in Washington. Lebanon’s president said he hoped the meeting would mark “the beginning of the end of the suffering of the Lebanese people in general and the residents of southern Lebanon in particular.” Israel, Lebanon and the US said in a joint statement that they had agreed to launch a process of direct negotiations.
US Central Command says no vessel has succeeded in breaching the blockade in the past 24 hours. At the same time, Trump addressed the talks: “I don’t like the proposal to suspend uranium enrichment for 20 years. They cannot be allowed to have nuclear weapons.”
The teams may return to Pakistan’s capital for another round of talks this week. Vice President JD Vance said “There is a grand deal to be made here, but it's up to the Iranians to take the next step.”
According to information obtained by Israel Hayom, the US is not willing to set another date for talks with Iran at this stage. At the same time, grim economic data point to a sharp deterioration and an increasing pressure to renew contacts with the Americans.
Analysis puts the potential daily damage at $435 million – nearly $13 billion a month. The blockade could strangle Iran's economy without a ground war, but risks upending the ceasefire and triggering a crisis with Beijing just weeks before Trump meets Xi.
While Israel insists on linking rehabilitation to Hamas's disarmament, Qatar and the UN are already clearing rubble, paving roads, and drilling water wells across the Gaza Strip.
Inflation could hit 180%, two million jobs could vanish, and a 12-year recovery awaits – and that's before American sanctions take full effect. Now Pezeshkian's allies fear the public will hold him personally to account.
Following the collapse of peace talks, the US Navy is set to enforce a sweeping maritime blockade on Iranian ports starting Monday; Tehran calls it piracy.
The Islamabad negotiations fell apart after Tehran refused to dismantle its nuclear program; the White House is now weighing limited military action and a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage.
