The U.S.-Iran peace talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement after 21 hours of negotiations, with Vice President JD Vance saying that the Iranian delegation "has chosen not to accept our terms." Speaking from Islamabad’s Serena Hotel on Sunday, Vance emphasized that the core U.S. demand was an affirmative commitment from Iran not to pursue nuclear weapons or the tools to rapidly develop them, which Tehran refused. He described the outcome as “bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States,” and said the U.S. delegation was leaving behind its “final and best offer.”

President Donald Trump responded  later Sunday, by ordering a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, escalating pressure on Iran. The directive, posted on Truth Social, was backed by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which deployed a carrier strike group to the region. The move followed Iran’s alleged mining of the strait and its continued closure, which Trump labeled “world extortion.”

Oil prices surged nearly 7% amid fears of supply disruption. Iran denied U.S. claims of de-mining operations by American destroyers in the area and accused Washington of failing to gain Tehran’s trust during talks.

Iran’s state media blamed “excessive American demands” for the failed talks, citing disputes over the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear technology.

The Pakistani government hosted the talks, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calling them a “make-or-break moment.” Iran’s delegation was led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf who claimed the U.S. failed to build trust despite Iran’s “constructive initiatives.”

"In intensive talks at highest level in 47 years, Iran engaged with US in good faith to end war. But when just inches away from 'Islamabad MoU,' we encountered maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade. Zero lessons earned," Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote on X Sunday.

Vance maintained constant communication with Trump during the talks, who was reportedly attending a UFC event in Miami when the negotiations concluded.

A fragile two-week ceasefire remains in place, but its future is uncertai, as Iranian officials said any maritime blockade by the U.S. will be a violation of the ceasefire agreement.

Meanwhile, ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have killed over 2055 people, particularly in southern regions like Nabatieh, with Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health confirming casualties from sustained bombardment linked to ongoing regional hostilities. Iranian negotiators have accused the U.S. of breaching the terms of their ceasefire agreement which calls for Israel to stop its bombardment of Lebanon.

The war between the U.S.-Israel and Iran began on February 28, 2026, and had entered its seventh week at the time of the talks.

The Artemis II crew successfully completed a historic 10-day mission around the Moon, splashing down at 0007 UTC on April 10, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.

The Orion spacecraft traveled 694,481 miles (1,117,659 km), reaching a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth—surpassing the Apollo 13 record by over 4,000 miles—and returned safely after a 6-minute communication blackout during re-entry at speeds near 25,000 mph.

The four astronauts—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen—became the first humans since Apollo 17 in 1970 to travel to the Moon and return.

Despite technical challenges—including repeated toilet malfunctions requiring in-flight repairs—the crew conducted critical tests on life support systems, radiation detectors, and next-generation spacesuits, all vital for future lunar landings. They also observed a 53-minute solar eclipse and captured unprecedented images of the Moon’s far side.

Following splashdown early Saturday, the crew was extracted via an inflatable “front porch” raft, medically assessed, and transported by helicopter to the USS John P. Murtha, before heading to Johnson Space Center in Houston for further evaluations and family reunions.

This mission marked several historic firsts: Koch is the first woman, Glover the first black person, and Hansen the first non-American to orbit the Moon. The crew spent 9 days, 1 hour, and 32 minutes in space, officially counted as 10 days because launch day was designated as Flight Day 1.

President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney both praised the mission as a spectacular success, reaffirming global unity in space exploration.

The U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire announced by President Donald Trump on Truth Social, contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Trump wrote the ceasefire was a "double sided CEASEFIRE" because the U.S. had "already met and exceeded all Military objectives," and called Iran’s 10-point peace proposal a "workable basis on which to negotiate." The deal, mediated by Pakistan, was announced late Tuesday, just hours before Trump’s deadline for Iran to reopen the strait or face devastating strikes.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed the agreement, stating: _"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces." The country is reportedly charging a toll before each vessel can sail through the strait, paid in bitcoin to bypass US-imposed sanctions.

Iran pointed out the ceasefire included Lebanon, but Israel and the U.S. rejected this, with Trump calling Lebanon a "separate skirmish." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the ceasefire did not cover Lebanon, where as part of its 'Operation Eternal Darkness,' Israel launched over 160 strikes in 10 minutes, killing at least 254 people and injuring 1,165, according to Lebanon’s Civil Defense.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the U.S. and Israel of violating the ceasefire, citing three breaches: continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, an alleged drone incursion into Iranian airspace (a Hermes-900 drone shot down in Fars province), and U.S. refusal to accept Iran’s right to uranium enrichment.

Iran temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz again in response to the Lebanon strikes, threatening the deal’s stability. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif initially claimed the ceasefire applied "everywhere including Lebanon," but the U.S. and Israel contradicted this, with Vice President JD Vance stating Iran had "misunderstood" the terms.

Peace talks are scheduled to begin in Islamabad on Saturday.

Meanwhile early Thurday, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "All U.S. Ships, Aircraft, and Military Personnel, with additional Ammunition, Weaponry, and anything else that is appropriate and necessary for the lethal prosecution and destruction of an already substantially degraded Enemy, will remain in place in, and around, Iran, until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with. If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the "Shootin' Starts," bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before. It was agreed, a long time ago, and despite all of the fake rhetoric to the contrary - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS and, the Strait of Hormuz WILL BE OPEN & SAFE. In the meantime our great Military is Loading Up and Resting, looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest. AMERICA IS BACK!"