The United States and Iran are preparing to resume peace talks, with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveling to Islamabad to meet Iranian officials. Iran's foreign minister has arrived carrying a written response to a United States proposal, signaling renewed diplomatic engagement despite ongoing tensions. President Donald Trump and senior officials will remain in Washington awaiting updates as negotiations unfold.

The talks come as the United States maintains a naval blockade of Iranian ships and ports, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said would continue until Tehran agrees to a deal. Washington has also imposed new sanctions targeting dozens of shipping firms and vessels linked to Iran's oil trade. Key sticking points include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the fate of Iran's highly enriched uranium, and the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets.

Meanwhile, a fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon remains under strain. Although a truce has been extended, both sides have continued exchanging fire, and Israeli strikes have expanded beyond previously defined zones. The conflict has killed thousands in Lebanon and displaced hundreds of thousands, raising fears that the cease-fire could collapse as regional tensions remain high.