US-Iran talks continue into early hours in Islamabad - White House

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday Israel’s continued strikes inside Lebanon are a key source of regional tension as Iran and the United States hold negotiations in Islamabad, according to semi-official Mehr news agency.

Pezeshkian urged the United States and other countries to pressure Israel to halt the attacks.

Pro-government influencer Ali Gholhaki said on Saturday the US is demanding the exit of 400 kg of uranium from Iran — "the same stockpile it failed to seize in a previous military operation" — along with 0% enrichment and full management of the Strait of Hormuz.

"A test today on the strait met a firm Iranian rejection. No US commitments on Lebanon, indicating Washington did not come for genuine negotiations," he posted on X.

Another round of negotiations between Iran and the United States in Islamabad has ended after 14 hours.

The two sides are now exchanging text messages with teams of experts present, Iran’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ali Reza Enayati posted on X.

US and Iranian delegations remain in talks at Serena Hotel past 1:57 AM after nearly 10 hours, with some breaks and dinner.

A framework for regional security, humanitarian reconstruction and frozen funds has been set, journalist Gabriella Colarusso said on X. "The hardest issue remains the Strait of Hormuz, where other regional and global actors could play a decisive role," she added.

The status of the Strait of Hormuz will remain unchanged until Iran and the United States agree on a “common framework” to continue negotiations, an Iranian security source told CNN on Saturday.

The source said “excessive demands” from the US side on several issues, including the strategic waterway, have so far prevented the two sides from establishing a shared basis to move talks forward.