LOS ANGELES: Vice President JD Vance said he expects positive negotiations with Iran as he departed Washington for high-level talks in Pakistan, but warned Tehran not to test the United States during the diplomatic process.
Speaking before boarding his flight, Vance said the US administration remains open to diplomacy if Iran is prepared to negotiate honestly. He added that the United States would respond firmly if Iran attempted to delay or manipulate the talks. Vance stressed that the upcoming meeting could become a key step toward reducing tensions in the region.
The negotiations are scheduled to take place in Islamabad, where Pakistani authorities have imposed strict security measures around the federal capital. The talks come after Donald Trump announced a ceasefire earlier this week in the six-week conflict involving Iran.
Trump said the ceasefire was arranged after Pakistan requested urgent diplomatic intervention. He had earlier warned Tehran that failure to stop the conflict could lead to severe consequences. Pakistan is now playing a major role as mediator between Washington and Tehran, with officials hoping the Islamabad meeting can transform the fragile ceasefire into a broader political agreement.
Despite the ceasefire announcement, the regional crisis continues to affect the global economy. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains far below normal levels, with only a small number of vessels moving through the waterway.
Iran has warned ships to stay within its territorial routes, causing hundreds of oil tankers and cargo vessels to remain stranded in the Gulf. The disruption has cut nearly 20 percent of global oil supply and pushed international oil prices to record highs. Energy analysts say markets will remain unstable until shipping through the Strait of Hormuz fully resumes.
