NPR News: 04-12-2026 1AM EDT

Vice President JD Vance left Islamabad Saturday after 21 hours of talks with Iran failed to produce a deal, casting uncertainty over the peace process. Vance said Iran was unwilling to accept the U.S. side's terms, though he did not provide specifics beyond saying the U.S. had made certain red lines clear. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghai posted on X that the main subjects of discussion were the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear issues, sanctions, reparations, and an end to the war against Iran and the region. The collapse of negotiations leaves open the question of whether and how the process will move forward.

American warships transit the Strait of Hormuz

The guided missile destroyers USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy have become the first American warships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war six weeks ago. According to U.S. Central Command, the ships are part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully cleared of mines previously laid by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard. U.S. officials say additional forces, including underwater drones, will join the effort in the coming days. The reopening of the strait is a key U.S. condition of the ceasefire. The waterway is critical to the global economy, accounting for about 20% of the world's oil supply.

Violence in the West Bank and New York City