President Trump says US Navy will begin blockade of Strait of Hormuz

Talks between the U.S. and Iran are set to begin after delays over Iran’s preconditions -- a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets -- Iran's semi official news agencies Fars and Tasnim said Saturday.

Progress has been made and intensive consultations in Islamabad “along with a reported reduction in Israeli strikes shifting from Beirut to southern Lebanon” — are being seen by Iran as signs of partial progress toward a ceasefire, Fars reported.

Fars also reported that the U.S. agreed in principle to the release of Iranian assets, but further discussions are needed to finalize the release.

The U.S. has denied that it has agreed to unblock Iranian assets.

-ABC News' Rashid Haddou-Riffi

Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with Iranian negotiators on Saturday in Islamabad, Pakistan.

"Appreciating Iran’s engagement in the Islamabad Talks, the Prime Minister affirmed Pakistan’s sincere resolve to continue playing its role as a mediator to help build momentum towards achieving meaningful results in the interest of regional and global peace and stability," the prime minister's office said in a statement.

Vice President JD Vance held a bilateral meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, according to the White House.

The press pool traveling with Vance was not brought into the meeting, but there is video of the meeting via the Ministry of Information of Pakistan.

The American Delegation included Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The Pakistan Delegation included Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Minister for the Interior Mohsin Naqvi and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

The White House is working to provide a list of all the participants. No additional details are available at this time, per the White House.

A senior U.S. official is also denying a Reuters report that the U.S. has agreed to release Iran's frozen assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks.

“False. The meetings have not even started yet," the senior U.S. official said.

-ABC News' Mariam Khan

Iranian state television reported Saturday that the timing of talks with the U.S. delegation will be determined after preconditions are clarified.

The state TV reporter from Islamabad said Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf will first meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, adding that the Iranian team will need to assess the status of its preconditions during the meeting with the Pakistani mediators.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and members of technical teams will also take part in the meeting. The Iranian delegation includes economic, legal and military teams led by senior officials in those fields, the state TV added.

-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian