Vance to Islamabad: U.S.-Iran Talks at a Crossroads

0:00It's April 21st. This is California News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. Vice President JD Vance heads to Islamabad any day now for round two of peace talks with Iran as their two-week ceasefire ticks down to expiration. Wednesday evening eastern time. President Trump made it clear he has no plans to extend it, pushing hard for a deal before the clock runs out. The big U.S. demand center on reopening the Strait of Hormuz for full commercial shipping. That's the choke point for 20% of global oil and gas. Washington also wants firm limits on Iran's nuclear enrichment to stop any path to a bomb after the first talks broke down over Iran's refusal to commit. Meanwhile, Iran is digging in with its own asks, lift the U.S. blockade on their ports that's turned back 27 ships, plus guarantees that Israel won't restart fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon. A separate ceasefire there is holding for now, but tensions run high after months of

1:00rockets, air strikes, and over 2011's deaths. Leaders are trading barbs. Iran's top negotiator calls U.S. pressure, just threats, not real talks, while Trump warns of big problems if they don't. Negotiate. Gas prices here have spiked above $4 a gallon thanks to the Strait drama, hitting every day folks hard. U.S. lips shaky with no Iranian team confirmed in Islamabad yet, but these next talks could shift everything or spark more trouble if they flop. Stay tuned as this unfolds.