AGENCIES

The face-to-face talks between the American and Iranian delegations in Pakistan continued till early today, the most significant engagement since the 1979 Islamic revolution, to end a war that plunged the Middle East into violence and rocked the world economy.

The trilateral talks, with host Pakistan acting as mediator, were ongoing in Islamabad, a senior White House official said -- a departure from past practice in which the two sides negotiated indirectly from separate rooms.

However, no side made any official statement about the talks’ progress.

According to Iranian state television, two rounds of talks have been held between the two sides in Pakistan, with a third expected later yesterday or today.

Al Jazeera also reported that Pakistan was pushing to extend the talks by at least another day.

Iranian Fars News Agency said the US was making “excessive demands” over the Strait of Hormuz during the talks.

“The US is making excessive demands regarding the strait... the US has also made unacceptable demands on several other issues”.

Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that the issue of the strategic strait was “one of the topics that faces serious disagreement” among the negotiators.

Meanwhile, the White House said high-level in-person trilateral talks with Iran and Pakistan were “ongoing” in Islamabad, without saying if they will continue today.

“There were mood swings from the two sides and the temperature went up and down during the meeting,” a Pakistani source said.

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