India, April 11 -- A fresh drama unfolded on Saturday after reports emerged of a US destroyer moving from Fujairah port towards the Strait of Hormuz even as the US and Iranian delegation began peace talks in Islamabad.

The news of the movement of the American vessel was met with an immediate warning from Iran: "Any US military vessel crossing the Hormuz Strait will be attacked within 30 minutes".

The rapid escalation in the Middle East was also communicated by the Iranian side to its delegation in Islamabad.

However, even as the tensions rose to a peak, in a first since the start of the ceasefire earlier this week, the US vessel returned after Tehran's warning.

The development comes even as senior US and Iranian officials met in Islam...