Pakistan has proposed hosting a second round of talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad prior to the expiry of an ongoing ceasefire on April 21, the Associated Press has reported.
Citing two Pakistani officials, the news agency said progress on the proposal depended on whether the two sides would prefer an alternative venue. They stressed that last week’s talks were part of an ongoing diplomatic process rather than a one-off engagement.
The first round, conducted over 20 hours last week, concluded without a formal agreement, with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance noting both sides had exchanged their positions and neared agreement. The stumbling block, according to statements from both Washington and Tehran, appears to be Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.
Various news agencies have said both sides are continuing engagement and could meet for talks within this week. However, they have noted, there is no clarity on a potential venue. There are also indications that several regional powers, including Turkiye and Egypt, are pushing for more talks, with an immediate goal of extending the ceasefire until a permanent solution can be achieved.
On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told a meeting of the federal cabinet that the ceasefire, while strained, was thus far holding. “There are a few hurdles, and efforts are underway to resolve them,” he said.
The conflict started on Feb. 28 after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeted Iran, killing more than 2,000 people in six weeks of conflict. Iran’s retaliatory strikes have targeted U.S. and Israeli interests across the Gulf and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, hampering global fuel supplies.
Iran and the United States inked a two-week ceasefire on April 7. Following the collapse of talks last week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a warning from Iran that such a move would violate the ceasefire.