ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to host talks between Iran and the United States in a bid to turn a fragile two-week ceasefire into a lasting end to a war that has left thousands dead and roiled global energy markets.&nbsp;Here are five things to know about the Islamabad talks:&nbsp;The war behind the talksOn February 28, the United States and Israel launched deadly coordinated strikes that killed supreme leader Ali Khamenei and struck Iran&rsquo;s military and nuclear infrastructure.&nbsp;More than 3,000 people were killed in Iran in five weeks, according to Iranian media and US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).&nbsp;Tehran responded by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf waterway through which about a fifth of global oil and gas passes, sending energy prices soaring and disrupting trade worldwide.&nbsp;On April 8, Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan. The ceasefire is expected to expire April 22.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s unlikely starring rolePakistan&rsquo;s value as a mediator rests on an unusually broad diplomatic network.Iran was the first country to recognize Pakistan&rsquo;s statehood following independence in 1947, with the two neighbors sharing a 900-kilometer (560-mile) border and deep historical, cultural and religious ties.&nbsp;Pakistan is also home to more than 20 million Shia Muslims, the second-largest such population in the world after Iran.&nbsp;Islamabad has cultivated strong ties with Washington, Riyadh and Beijing.&nbsp;Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Beijing at the end of March for talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who backed Islamabad&rsquo;s mediation efforts as &ldquo;in keeping with the common interests of all parties.&rdquo;&nbsp;Trump himself told AFP that China helped bring Iran to the negotiating table, an account backed by Pakistani officials.&nbsp;&ldquo;On ceasefire night, hopes were fading, but China stepped in and convinced Iran to agree to a preliminary ceasefire,&rdquo; a senior Pakistani official familiar with the negotiations told AFP on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;What&rsquo;s on the table?The gap between the two sides remains vast.&nbsp;Washington&rsquo;s reported 15-point proposal centers on Iran&rsquo;s enriched uranium and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;Tehran has countered with a 10-point plan demanding control over the strait, a toll for vessels crossing the strait, an end to all regional military operations and the lifting of all sanctions.&nbsp;Lebanon is also a major sticking point.Israel has continued its strikes in the country targeting Hezbollah &mdash; after the ceasefire came into force &mdash; with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejecting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s assertion that the truce included Lebanon.&nbsp;US Vice President JD Vance appeared to take a softer tone, saying there may have been a &ldquo;legitimate misunderstanding&rdquo; from Iran that Lebanon would be included.&nbsp;Iran&rsquo;s President Masoud Pezeshkian warned on X that Israel&rsquo;s strikes on Lebanon rendered the negotiations &ldquo;meaningless.&rdquo;&nbsp;Iran has also long refused to concede to Washington&rsquo;s demands on its nuclear program.&nbsp;Iranian sources have also told Iranian media that Tehran won&rsquo;t attend the talks unless a ceasefire is in place in Lebanon.&nbsp;Who are the negotiators?Vance will lead the American team, joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner.&nbsp;It marks the most senior US engagement with Iran since Secretary of State John Kerry negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal.&nbsp;Witkoff held multiple rounds of Oman-mediated talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi before the war cut the process short.&nbsp;Araghchi and Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, along with other security and economic officials, have arrived in Pakistan, Iranian state television and the Pakistani government confirmed.&nbsp;Reporting their arrival, state broadcaster IRIB reiterated Tehran&rsquo;s position that talks will not begin unless its conditions are met, including a ceasefire in Lebanon.&nbsp;Islamabad on lockdownThe talks are being held in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.&nbsp;The government has kept its cards close to its chest, not confirming the venue, but the Serena Hotel &mdash; located next to the foreign ministry in the capital&rsquo;s high-security Red Zone &mdash; asked its guests to clear out on Wednesday.&nbsp;Authorities in the capital announced a two-day public holiday on Thursday and Friday.&nbsp;The streets of Islamabad are flooded with armed security personnel in military fatigues, traffic diversions are in place and police checkpoints are set up.&nbsp;The talks are expected to be indirect: the two delegations sitting in separate rooms with Pakistani officials shuttling proposals between them, mirroring the format used in earlier Oman-mediated rounds.

Asia

Pakistan will host Iran-US talks in Islamabad to turn a fragile two-week ceasefire into a lasting end to war. Key issues include the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions, Lebanon, and indirect negotiations under tight security.

Five things to know about the planned Iran-US talks in Islamabad

TEHRAN: Iranian state media reported Monday that a parliamentary commission had approved plans to impose tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway vital to oil and gas shipments that has been effectively closed due to the Middle East war.&nbsp;Citing a member of the parliament&#39;s security commission, state TV said the plan involved, among other things, &quot;financial arrangements and rial toll systems&quot; and &quot;implementing the sovereign role of Iran&quot;, as well as cooperation with Oman on the other side of the Strait.&nbsp;It also included the &quot;prohibition of Americans and the Zionist regime from passing through&quot;, as well as a ban on other countries imposing sanctions on Iran.&nbsp;Around a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz in peacetime.&nbsp;Since the war began, crossings have plummeted by around 95 percent, according to maritime intelligence firm Kpler, with the impact felt across global energy markets.&nbsp;

Middle East

Iran parliament commission approved plans to impose tolls on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, limit US and Israeli access, and work with Oman. War has reduced traffic by 95%, affecting a major route for global oil and gas supplies.

Iran parliament commission approves Hormuz toll plan: state TV

Web Desk/AFP

​Demonstrators hold banners while gathering for the weekly anti-war protest at HaBima Square in Tel Aviv on March 28, 2026. (AFP)

Hundreds gathered in Tel Aviv and some other Israeli cities on Saturday to protest the war in the Middle East, in unauthorised demonstrations that security forces sought to disperse.

All you need to know about the US Israel war on Iran day 29

LONDON: Six major international powers, including Britain, France, Germany and Japan, said Thursday they were ready &quot;to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning&quot; the grouping -- which also includes Italy and the Netherlands -- said in a joint statement.&nbsp;The declaration came as an effective Iranian blockade of the strait has paralyzed commercial shipping through the crucial maritime chokepoint, which in peacetime sees a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas pass through it.&nbsp;The war, which erupted on February 28 when the US and Israel began bombing Iran, has led Tehran to retaliate with strikes across the Gulf region, with 23 commercial vessels, including 10 tankers, reporting having been attacked or incidents.&nbsp;The situation has left around 20,000 seafarers stranded on approximately 3,200 vessels west of the strait, according to the International Maritime Organization.&nbsp;&quot;We express our deep concern about the escalating conflict,&quot; the allies&#39; joint statement said.&nbsp;&quot;Freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, including under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.&nbsp;&quot;The effects of Iran&#39;s actions will be felt by people in all parts of the world, especially the most vulnerable.&quot;&nbsp;US President Donald Trump has urged other world powers, and NATO, to help reopen the Hormuz Strait to commercial shipping, but they have rebuffed his call in the short-term while insisting they were open to discussions and planning.&nbsp;&quot;The level of threat is such that I don&#39;t see many nations being willing to put warships into the middle of that threat right now,&quot; a UK defense official told reporters at a briefing Wednesday.&nbsp;&quot;We&#39;re working closely with allies and partners in terms of what we might be able to do and what we can offer, as and when the situation allows,&quot; he added.&nbsp;The defense official noted London has sent a &quot;small number&quot; of additional military &quot;planners&quot; to US Central Command (CENTCOM) to &quot;help with the planning and option development for... whatever comes next in the Strait of Hormuz might look like&quot;.

Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Italy and the Netherlands backed safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz after the US and Israel began bombing Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate with strikes across the Gulf region.

Six allies ready to help 'efforts to ensure safe passage' through Hormuz Strait

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced austerity measures amid rising global oil prices, citing disruptions to trade in the Strait of Hormuz. Addressing the nation, the prime minister said the federal and provincial governments had unanimously decided on austerity measures, including a 50% immediate cut in fuel for government vehicles for two months. Ambulances and public buses will be exempt, he said. The prime minister said that in the public and private sectors, 50% of staff will work from home, excluding essential services. He added that offices will remain open only four days a week to save fuel, noting that this does not apply to banks, industry, or agriculture. According to him, two-week school holidays will begin at the end of this week, while higher education will move to online classes. He said that 60% of government vehicles will be grounded for the next two months, while cabinet members and ministers will not take salaries for two months. Sharif also announced a complete ban on foreign travel for ministers and officials, including the prime minister, chief ministers, and governors, unless the visits are essential for national interest. He added that teleconferencing will be prioritized to reduce fuel use. Speaking about hoarders and profiteers, the prime minister warned that the law would &ldquo;act against them&rdquo; without discrimination. The prime minister&rsquo;s address comes at a time when the global economy and oil supply chains are being severely affected by clashes along key Middle Eastern trade routes.

Economy

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announces austerity measures amid soaring global oil prices and disruptions to trade in the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan announces austerity measures amid oil supply disruptions due to Mideast clashes

WASHINGTON: Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Friday said the US navy was preparing to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz &quot;as soon as it&#39;s reasonable to do it,&quot; as traffic through the key trade route remains choked due to the US-Israel war on Iran.&nbsp;&quot;As soon as it&#39;s reasonable to do it, we&#39;ll escort ships through the straits and get the energy moving again,&quot; he told US broadcaster Fox News&#39;s &quot;Fox and Friends&quot; show.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump had said on Tuesday that the US Navy would &quot;begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible&quot; in a bid to avoid disruption of global oil supplies.

US plans to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz soon, after disruptions caused by the Israel–Iran conflict, with US president Donald Trump supporting tanker protection to maintain global oil supplies.

US says to escort ships in Strait of Hormuz 'soon'

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh government initiated emergency energy conservation measures and prepared for potential power rationing as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/usisrael-war-on-iran-day-6" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Middle East conflict</a>&nbsp;disrupts global fuel markets, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported. According to the state-run news agency, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood stated that the nation faces a temporary crisis in the energy sector due to ongoing regional unrest. Following an emergency review meeting, the energy minister requested that citizens use electricity and fuel economically to help manage the supply gap. Bangladesh currently holds 201,610 tons of diesel, enough to last 14 days, according to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) Director Dr. AKM Azadur Rahman. BSS reported on March 3 that petrol and octane reserves are sufficient for approximately 17 and 31 days. The BPC director indicated that the state is monitoring the supply chain to ensure refined&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/saudi-arabia-assures-pakistan-alternative-oil-supply-route-amid-regional-crisis-1" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">oil shipments</a>&nbsp;from alternative markets continue despite the closure of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/opec-backs-market-stability-as-iran-rules-out-hormuz-closure" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strait of Hormuz.</a> Bangladesh&rsquo;s Cabinet Division issued an 11-point directive on March 5 ordering all public and autonomous offices to curb consumption. As per the mandate, offices must set air conditioners to 25 degrees Celsius or higher and switch off half of their lights. The directive also specified that decorative lighting should be avoided and the use of private vehicles reduced. The research director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, Dr. Khondaker Golam Moazzem, stated that the nation&#39;s energy system faces increased pressure, making supply rationing likely in the short term. Research published in the International Research Journal reported that national energy consumption in Bangladesh grows by roughly 10% annually. This creates a supply-demand disparity that requires immediate management. State Minister Anindya Islam Amit told BSS that electricity for the Boro irrigation season remains a priority even if rationing occurs in other sectors. Boro is Bangladesh&#39;s key dry-season rice crop,&nbsp;demanding heavy irrigation from November to June. To protect gas for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/global-coal-demand-expected-to-hit-record-in-2025-international-energy-agency" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">power generation</a>, the Bangladeshi government ordered CNG filling stations to close daily from 3 pm to 9 pm local time through the month of Ramadan, according to a statement by the energy ministry. A study from the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies found that rising energy costs are already straining the agri-food system, as production costs for rice increased 3.45% annually in recent years. Bangladesh&rsquo;s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman instructed the Energy and Mineral Resources Division to procure necessary liquefied natural gas from alternative markets to stabilize the grid, BSS reported on March 1.

Fuel droplets fall from a nozzle at a gasoline station in Dhaka, Bangladesh on August 6, 2022. (AFP)

Bangladesh

Bangladesh launches energy conservation and power rationing amid Middle East conflict disrupting fuel supplies, imposing office cutbacks and CNG closures.

Bangladesh curbs energy use as Middle East war strains reserves

ISLAMABAD: Eight OPEC+ countries agreed to begin unwinding 1.65 million barrels per day in voluntary production cuts with a 206,000 bpd output increase, as Iran&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has no intention of closing the Strait of Hormuz despite rising regional tensions. According to a press release issued by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries &mdash; Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman &mdash; reviewed&nbsp;global market conditions and outlook, adding that they would closely monitor and assess market conditions. &quot;In their continuous efforts to support market stability, they reaffirmed the importance of adopting a cautious approach and retaining full flexibility to increase, pause or reverse the phase out of the voluntary production adjustments, including reversing the previously implemented voluntary adjustments of the 2.2 million barrels per day announced in November 2023,&quot; the statement said. &quot;The eight OPEC+ countries also noted that this measure will provide an opportunity for the participating countries to accelerate their compensation. The eight countries reiterated their collective commitment to achieve full conformity with the Declaration of Cooperation, including the additional voluntary production adjustments that will be monitored by the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC),&quot; it added. According to the statement, the group confirmed to &quot;fully compensate for any overproduced volume since January 2024,&quot; adding that they would hold monthly meetings to review market conditions, conformity, and compensation. The eight countries will meet on 5 April 2026. Meanwhile, maritime security agencies said two ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday as Iran pressed a second day of strikes in response to US-Israeli air raids, reported AFP. The British maritime security agency UKMTO said one ship off the coast of Oman was struck by an &ldquo;unknown projectile&rdquo; above the waterline. A fire initially reported in the engine room was later brought under control. In a separate incident, another vessel was struck by an unknown projectile, causing a fire that was later extinguished, with the ship intending to continue its voyage. The private maritime security company Vanguard Tech said the second vessel, a tanker, was located about 17 nautical miles northwest of Mina Saqr in the United Arab Emirates. Iranian state television reported that an oil tanker struck while transiting the Strait of Hormuz was sinking, broadcasting images showing thick black smoke billowing from the vessel. The Strait of Hormuz remains a key transit point for global energy trade, through which around a quarter of the world&rsquo;s oil and a fifth of liquefied natural gas shipments pass. On Saturday, Iran&rsquo;s Revolutionary Guards announced the closure of the shipping lane, warning it had become dangerous due to US and Israeli attacks. Speaking to Aljazeera, Iran&#39;s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the country has no intention of closing the Strait of Hormuz at present, nor any plans to do &ldquo;anything that would disrupt navigation in it at this stage.&rdquo;

Eight OPEC+ nations reaffirmed market stability commitments as ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran said it has no intention of closing the key global energy shipping route

Articles tagged with "strait of Hormuz"