Iran-US Talks: Pakistan Mediates, Progress Hinges on Indirect Channels

0:00It's April 25th. This is U.S. News Today, AI-powered stories shaping the nation. I'm Kori with the story. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Arachee just wrapped up key meetings in Pakistan and headed to the airport around 6 p.m. local time. Pakistani leaders like Phil Marshall Aseem Munir and Prime Minister Shabat Sharif are playing middleman in this ongoing conflict. Tehran made it clear up front. No direct talks with U.S. envoys, just messages passed through Islamabad. Meanwhile, the White House is sending Steve Wickoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan, hoping to spark face-to-face discussions. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt says they're optimistic these could push a deal forward. Vice President J.D. Vance, who handled the first round, is staying involved but skipping this trip. Iran's dug in its heels, refusing new formal talks mainly over the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. This point to some positive signals from Tehran lately, but no big wins yet.

1:01Reports hint at internal rifts in Iran's leadership, with a revolutionary guard corps holding a lot of sway. In the meetings, Arachee and Munir covered ceasefire updates and steps to end the war, thanking Pakistan for its mediation push. Munir pledged Islamabad's full support to keep talks rolling. So right now, with direct lines off the table, any real progress hinges on these indirect channels through Pakistan keeping the diplomacy alive. Message at a time.