US-Iran talks with Vance and Iranian officials in Pakistan as ceasefire strains

Talks are taking place in Islamabad (Anjum Naveed/AP)

A US delegation led by US vice president JD Vance is heading to Pakistan for high-level talks with Iranian representatives for the first such meeting since the war began more than a month ago, which will test whether they can shore up a fragile ceasefire and pave the way for peace.

The ceasefire brokered by Pakistan still faces hurdles in the talks beginning on Saturday, as Israel and Hezbollah militants have traded fire along the border of southern Lebanon and Iran has set conditions before negotiations can begin.