Vance says the ball is in Iran's court after tense talks in Islamabad

Vice President JD Vance returned from Islamabad this weekend saying the U.S. has made its opening play in renewed talks with Iran, and now it's Tehran's turn to act. Speaking after a closed-door meeting with Iranian officials, Vance said the American delegation - which included special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner - made headway on de-escalation, but only if Iran chooses to follow through. 'The ball is in their court,' Vance said, standing beside U.S. naval forces now enforcing a partial blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

The blockade, which began quietly late last week, restricts Iranian oil shipments and has already driven global energy prices slightly higher. The administration frames it as leverage, not aggression - a way to push Iran toward negotiations without direct conflict. Officials say the goal is to limit Iran's ability to fund regional proxies while leaving a clear path to diplomacy. But the move has drawn sharp reactions, especially from critics who say it risks miscalculation in one of the world's most volatile waterways.

The Islamabad meeting was unusual in both location and personnel. Pakistan, not typically a mediator in U.S.-Iran talks, hosted the session as a neutral ground. The American team leaned on Kushner and Witkoff, both longtime Trump allies with informal influence, rather than traditional State Department channels. That bypassing of career diplomats has raised eyebrows among foreign policy veterans, who question the depth and sustainability of any agreement reached through backchannel talks.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was blunt in her criticism. Appearing on MSNBC, she called the administration's approach 'a joke' and said President Trump's recent rhetoric - including inflammatory posts about Iran and the Pope - shows he's 'fully unhinged.' She questioned the credibility of talks led by political loyalists instead of experienced diplomats, saying, 'You can't run foreign policy like a real estate deal.' Her comments reflect broader skepticism among some foreign policy experts about the administration's mix of bluster and backroom negotiation.

Still, the White House insists the strategy is working. Officials say Iran has signaled quiet interest in continuing talks, especially as economic pressure mounts. The blockade isn't total - humanitarian goods are still allowed through - but it's tight enough to hurt. Oil analysts estimate Iran's export revenue could drop by 30% in the next quarter if the restrictions hold.

Vance acknowledged the risks but said the U.S. is acting with restraint. 'We're not looking for war,' he said. 'But we're not going to let Iran destabilize the region unchecked.' He added that the administration is prepared to ease the blockade if Iran agrees to verifiable limits on its nuclear program and reduces support for armed groups in Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon.

What happens next likely depends on how Iran chooses to respond. If they engage, it could open a rare window for diplomacy. If they don't, the U.S. may tighten the screws further - or face pressure to back down. For now, the administration is waiting, watching, and keeping its fleet in place.