Islamabad is the leading candidate to host a fresh round of technical negotiations between the United States and Iran, expected around 11 July, diplomatic sources told Pakistan's Dawn newspaper. The talks, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, will focus on Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief, frozen Iranian assets, and regional security concerns including freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The diplomatic push follows the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding — signed two weeks ago — which gave both sides 60 days to reach a broader agreement, though progress remains fragile amid continued rhetorical hostility, with President Trump mocking the state funeral of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iranian officials warning of "divine retribution" against the US and Israel.