GEOFF BENNETT: Welcome to the "News Hour."

An American delegation is headed back to Pakistan## tonight to continue talks geared# toward ending the war with Iran.

AMNA NAWAZ: One of the focal points of any# discussion will be the Strait of Hormuz,## where vital maritime traffic# remains largely frozen.## But while Iran's foreign minister is# now already in the Pakistani capital,## late today, his spokesman said there is# no meeting planned with the Americans.

Stephanie Sy again begins our coverage tonight.

STEPHANIE SY: Tonight, fresh hope for a path## forward in the negotiations# between the U.S.

and Iran.

KAROLINE LEAVITT, White House Press# Secretary: We have certainly seen## some progress from the Iranian# side in the last couple of days.

STEPHANIE SY: The White House confirmed today# that special envoy Steve Witkoff and President## Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner will travel to# Pakistan tomorrow for direct talks with Iran.

Notably absent from the team,# Vice President J.D.

Vance.## He was set to go to Pakistan earlier this week,# but was suddenly pulled back to the White House,## which now says he's on standby to travel should# there be substantial progress in negotiations.

As the extended cease-fire holds for a third week,## White House Press Secretary Karoline# Leavitt says Iran pushed for renewed talks.

KAROLINE LEAVITT: The Iranians want to talk.

They# want to talk in person.

And so the president is,## as I have said many, many times to all of you,# always willing to give diplomacy a chance.

STEPHANIE SY: But Iran has not yet confirmed it is## sending diplomats to Islamabad# for direct talks with the U.S.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted to# social media that he would visit Pakistan## to review current regional developments,## all this as the American blockade of the Strait of# Hormuz continues, roiling global energy markets.## Even with three aircraft carriers and more than# 15,000 sailors and Marines operating in the## Middle East, safety and security concerns# persist for ships stalled in the strait.

Both sides are claiming control.

The two# container ships Iran's Revolutionary Guard## boasted of seizing earlier this# week are now anchored at port.## U.S.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth admitted# today ships are not getting through fast enough.

PETE HEGSETH, U.S.

Defense Secretary: We are# seeing vessels transiting.

There are paths## that are open.

So transit is occurring, much# more limited than anybody would like to see and## with more risk than people would like to see.

But# that's because Iran is doing irresponsible things.

STEPHANIE SY: As pressure ramps up# to get goods shipped and prices down,## the president is trying to use what tools he can.## The White House quietly announced today a# 90-day extension of the Jones Act waiver,## which makes it easier for foreign vessels to# transport oil and natural gas around U.S.

ports.

As high oil prices stoke worries# about the greater U.S.

economy,## the Trump administration continues its squeeze# on the Iranian economy, announcing new economic## sanctions on Iran, as well as on Chinese companies# that the U.S.

accuses of transporting Iranian oil.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Stephanie Sy.