US and Iranian officials begin face-to-face talks in Pakistan

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, left, meets Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (Pakistan Prime Minister Office via AP)

The United States and Iran have begun face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan days after a two-week ceasefire was announced, as the war that has killed thousands of people and shaken global markets entered its seventh week.

The White House confirmed the direct nature of the talks. Iran’s state-run news agency said three-party talks had begun after Iranian pre-conditions, including a reduction in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, were met, and after US and Iranian officials met separately with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.