Iran has been unable to open the Strait of Hormuz to more shipping traffic because it cannot locate all of the mines it laid in the waterway and lacks the capability to remove them, according to U.S. officials

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(wow)

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NASA'S ARTEMIS 2 CREW CAPSULE LANDS SAFELY BACK ON EARTH

Senior Iranian source to Reuters: U.S. has agreed to release Iran’s frozen assets 'held in Qatar and other foreign banks'

A source in Pakistan's Foreign Ministry told the Qatari newspaper "Al-Araby Al-Jadeed" that a Chinese delegation will arrive in Islamabad today to assist Pakistan during the negotiations between the United States and Iran. According to the report, China may offer guarantees if the two sides reach an agreement

U.S. has not agreed to release any Iranian frozen assets, source says: CBS

(though imo it doesn't matter if iran is already convinced, right (whatever is their domestic signal maybe to get into talks), CBS is also like fox news little bit you know domestic posturing, idk) (maybe I'm too +ve on this)

Talks started in Pakistan via intermediaries according to sources

Update: confirmed by FOX & CBS

Negotiations between Iran and the American side have begun in Islamabad: Iran State Media

In the negotiations, Iran and the U.S. are considering a permanent ceasefire according to a pakistani reporter

(pakistan have their own bias in this so take with 🧂)

US AND IRAN BEGIN HIGHEST-LEVEL TALKS IN FIVE DECADES: FT

2020 TRUMP: Iran never won a war, but never lost a negotiation!

US FORCES STARTED MINE CLEARANCE MISSION IN HORMUZ: CENTCOM

Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM.

Additional U.S. forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearance effort in the coming days.

(this hinges on Iran obviously)

(Fyi: sea mines were never the primary focus (they can lay more if anything), it was Iranian attacks and insurance concerns. Therefore, unless this is coordinated with Iran, it won't work. Iran has stated that they cannot clear mines so perhaps privately they are working with the US , and negotiations are progressing or maybe as FT said 👇 we are still not locked on SoH clearance so, watch out)

Negotiators hit stalemate over Strait of Hormuz

One of the people said Iran insisted it retained control over the waterway and could charge vessels a toll. Iranian negotiators are refusing options for “joint control”, the person said, despite a high-level meeting between US vice-president JD Vance and Iranian wartime leader Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Negotiators are having a working dinner, one of the people said, which will be followed by technical discussions on Saturday night: FT

Security source confirms: IDF instructed to reduce strikes in Lebanon as a confidence-building step ahead of talks between the sides: Kann

Iran-US talks are expected to end within an hour: sources 🧂, anyway this is 3rd and final round of talks happening for the day atleast, so about to end

Talks largely positive, sources say, but Strait of Hormuz remains a sticking point: CNN

Trump on Iran: We have mine sweepers out there. We are sweeping the strait.

While the U.S.-Iran talks on Saturday have not yet resulted in a diplomatic breakthrough, the fact that the head of Iran’s Parliament met face to face with the American vice president is still extraordinary given the long history of animosity between the two nations.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s Parliament and a powerful military and political figure, shook hands with Vice President JD Vance, according to two senior Iranian officials, who described the mood of the meeting as cordial and calm: NYT