Control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical point in direct talks taking place between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, writes the Financial Times.

In particular, according to international media, as discussions between the Iranian and US delegations continue, the demand for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has remained a critical issue and has sparked debate.

As the Financial Times writes, Iran insists on maintaining control of the waterway and on the possibility of imposing taxes on ships.

Iranian negotiators are rejecting options for “joint control,” despite a high-level meeting held between US Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s wartime leader, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Discussions between the parties are expected to continue.

At the same time, Al Jazeera reports that the negotiations could last all night, while during the short break that took place earlier, through text messages, the two sides saw that they could reach a point of contact.

The Iranian delegation had a busy day of meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before the start of the negotiations. Meanwhile, journalists gathered outside the meeting site reported fatigue and a lack of concrete progress.