Tehran briefly loses power after strikes as peace push ramps up

Parts of Tehran lost electrical power after missile strikes on Sunday as Iran and its proxies lobbed attacks at US allies over the weekend and thousands more American military personnel moved into the region.

The arrival of a US amphibious assault group and the introduction of the Iran-backed Houthis to the conflict raised fears of a possible escalation of the war entering its second month, even as Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey met to find a path out.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said after the meeting with his counterparts that “both Iran and US have expressed their confidence in Pakistan” to host future talks, although neither side has indicated they are ready to meet.

There’s still little sign that Iran and the US will meet for peace talks soon, even though President Donald Trump has pushed for negotiations as US gas prices soar in a congressional election year. He delayed his deadline to April 6 for Tehran to agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or have its power plants demolished. Iran rejected a 15-point proposal from Trump and insisted on war reparations and other demands Trump is unlikely to accept.

Electricity supply was cut in parts of Tehran, the capital of Iran, and nearby Alborz province after attacks on facilities in the area, the stat...