Historic US-Iran Talks Open as Strait of Hormuz Cleared

Delegates from the United States and Iran held direct negotiations on Saturday. The talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, mark the first such meeting between the two nations since 1979. The goal is to end a military conflict that has lasted six weeks. The discussions occurred as U.S. President Donald Trump made a major announcement. He stated that the U.S. military has begun the process of "clearing" the Strait of Hormuz. This strategic waterway is crucial for global oil shipments. The operation involves removing naval mines from the area. The simultaneous timing of the diplomatic talks and the military clearance operation is significant. It suggests actions are being taken on both fronts to de-escalate the prolonged crisis.