Stalled Pakistan Talks Deepen Uncertainty as US–Iran Ceasefire Nears Expiry
Prospects for renewed diplomacy between the United States and Iran remain unclear as a fragile ceasefire approaches its deadline, with both sides signaling readiness for renewed conflict and casting doubt over planned talks in Pakistan announced by Donald Trump.
Washington indicated that Vice President JD Vance stood ready to return to Islamabad for a second round of negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East conflict. However, Tehran has not confirmed participation, accusing the United States of breaching the truce through a naval blockade and the seizure of vessels.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf criticized Washington’s approach, warning that Tehran would not negotiate under pressure and hinting at potential military escalation. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also cautioned that unauthorized ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz could be targeted.
The United States, in turn, has accused Iran of disrupting maritime traffic in the same strategic channel, which handles roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments. Tensions over the waterway intensified after Iran effectively restricted access following the conflict launched on February 28 by US and Israeli forces.
Despite reports that some Iranian vessels have navigated past the blockade, uncertainty persists over whether diplomacy can resume before the ceasefire expires. Trump has warned that failure to reach an agreement could trigger renewed hostilities, saying Iran was expected at the Pakistan talks and suggesting he is unlikely to extend the truce.
Confusion also surrounds the exact timing of the ceasefire’s expiration, with differing interpretations from Washington and Tehran.
Global markets have reacted cautiously, with oil prices dipping and equities rising on hopes of a breakthrough. Still, residents in Tehran described a tense atmosphere, citing economic hardship and limited optimism about the outcome.
A central sticking point remains Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. While Trump has claimed Tehran agreed to transfer it, Iranian officials have firmly denied this, insisting the issue was never part of negotiations.
As the deadline looms, the fate of both the ceasefire and the proposed talks remains uncertain, raising the risk of a renewed escalation in the region.
