Islamabad

A US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance arrived in Pakistan for talks with Iranian officials aimed at shoring up a shaky ceasefire and paving the way for a permanent end to the fighting. It marks the first such meeting since the war began more than a month ago.

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

The Iranian delegation arrived early Saturday in Islamabad, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who said on X that discussions will only take place if there is an Israeli ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked Iranian assets.

Hours earlier, President Donald Trump wished Vance good luck. “We'll find out what's going on. They're militarily defeated.”

In Islamabad, the streets of a normally bustling capital were deserted Saturday as security forces sealed roads ahead of the talks.

Here is the latest:

Lebanon's state media reports 3 killed in Israeli strikes

The Lebanese National News Agency reported multiple Israeli strikes early Saturday in southern Lebanon, killing at least three people.

The three were killed when an airstrike hit and destroyed a residential building in Maifadoun town in the southern province of Nabatiyeh, according to the agency.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, said it fired a barrage of rockets that targeted a military facility in northern Israel.

Iran's negotiators to meet with Pakistan's premier ahead of talks with the US

The Iranian delegation is scheduled to meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at noon Saturday, according to the Tasnim news agency, which is close to the powerful Revolutionary Guard.

Iran's negotiating team, chaired by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, met late Friday with Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.

The meetings come ahead of high-stakes talks between Iran and the US in Islamabad, which aim at reaching a permanent end to the war in the Middle East.

Pakistan sets up state-of-the-art media centre for talks

Pakistan's government has set up a state-of-the-art media centre to facilitate Pakistani and foreign journalists covering the talks between the United States and Iran, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said.

Tarar told reporters the facility at the Jinnah Convention Centre offers high-speed internet and a range of free services to support media coverage. Shuttle services have been arranged to transport journalists between the media centre and a hotel in the city's main shopping mall.

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Pakistan has announced visa-on-arrival for journalists and official delegations travelling from the United States and Iran for the talks, which have been dubbed the “Islamabad talks.”

Inside the media centre, rows of workstations equipped with laptops and charging points allow reporters to file stories. Large screens broadcast major domestic and international television channels. The facility also has designated areas for live stand-ups, press briefings and interviews.