Islamabad Lockdown: US-Iran Talks Eye Strait of Hormuz

The talks, led by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, are being held at the Islamabad Serena Hotel. Local authorities implemented a citywide lockdown, declared a two-day holiday, and deployed thousands of security personnel, transforming the capital into a "ghost town," as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

This extreme security reflects heightened tensions following recent U.S. and Israeli actions against Iranian leadership, including a strike that killed the former Supreme Leader, and lingering concerns over assassination plots, with Iranian delegates expressing safety worries. The primary focus of the summit is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which has severely roiled energy markets and disrupted global trade.

Pakistan is acting as a neutral facilitator, providing a secure "neutral ground." Market participants are closely watching whether the diplomatic "open hand" will lead to a signed deal or if the "Brewed for Peace" initiative will give way to a return of hostilities as talks extend into Sunday.