US and Iran fail to reach a deal in Pakistan (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)

The Iranian, US, and Pakistani negotiators are reportedly meeting face-to-face

High-level talks involving the Iranian, US and Pakistani delegations in Islamabad have stretched into a second day, as President Donald Trump warned that China would face “big problems” if it sent weapons to Iran.

Tehran said the Pakistan-mediated talks with the US ended after 14 hours on Saturday, with technical teams from both sides now exchanging expert texts and negotiations set to continue on Sunday despite remaining differences.

The White House, however, said the talks were still ongoing, with a senior official telling the press pool: “15 hours and counting!”

In the meantime, the US president threatened China with potential consequences after being asked about anonymously sourced CNN reports alleging possible Chinese arms deliveries to Tehran, claims Beijing has denied.

Trump also struck a triumphant tone, claiming the US had already secured victory “regardless of what happens” in the talks.

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Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is leading the Iranian side in Islamabad, while US Vice President J.D. Vance heads the American team.

Iran arrived at the talks with a message of deep mistrust, with Ghalibaf saying Tehran had goodwill despite the US attacking Iran “twice within less than a year” in the middle of negotiations. Vance struck a similar tone, saying earlier that he expected productive talks while warning Iran not to “play” the US.

Key developments:

• Talks have hit a “stalemate” over which power will control the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran reportedly insisting that it can charge a toll for passage through the key waterway, according to the Financial Times.

• Trump claimed the US was already working to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. “We have minesweepers out there. We’re sweeping the strait,” he said, after CENTCOM said that the US Navy destroyers USS Frank E. Petersen and USS Michael Murphy crossed the strait and operated in the Arabian Gulf as part of the mission.

• Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari denied US claims of a minesweeping operation in Hormuz, insisting that any vessel seeking to pass through the key waterway requires permission from the Iranian armed forces.

Follow our live coverage below for continuous updates. You can also read our previous updates here.