Second round negotiations are likely tomorrow. JD Vance leaves for Pakistan today. Iran has not yet made the final decision. Trump
Security personnel stand guard on the Zero Point Bridge in the federal capital, amid heightened vigilance ahead of the second round of US-Iran talks. PHOTO: ONLINE
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has set the stage for a second round of high-stakes talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, set to take place just hours before a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire expires on Wednesday.
Despite continued uncertainty around ‘Islamabad Round 2’ due to Iran’s reluctance to formally confirm its participation, a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance is expected to visit the federal capital along with senior officials.
There was some ambiguity about Vance’s whereabouts, as President Donald Trump told the New York Post that Vance was already on his way to Islamabad, but White House officials said the vice president would leave Tuesday and talks were expected Wednesday.
Although there was some confusion about the exact timing of the arrival, there was some certainty that the American delegation was coming. Iran, however, maintains public suspense, even if developments on the ground in Islamabad suggest a different trajectory.
Even hours after Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tehran had not yet decided whether to join the talks, U.S. military planes were seen landing at Nur Khan air base, indicating that preparations were moving forward regardless of the public stance.
Iran has accused the United States of failing to respect the terms of the ceasefire and urged Washington to end its naval blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz before starting negotiations.
“Delivering on commitments is the basis for meaningful dialogue. A deep historical distrust in Iran of the conduct of the U.S. government remains, while unconstructive and contradictory signals from U.S. officials convey a bitter message: they seek Iran’s capitulation. Iranians do not submit to force,” Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on X.
Pakistani officials remained tight-lipped, but privately acknowledged that much of the uncertainty stemmed from pre-talk “posturing” on both sides. Diplomatic sources indicated that indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran remained active.
According to a report by the British News Agency, Field Marshal Asim Munir has established contact with President Trump. During the conversation, according to the report, he stressed that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz was hindering diplomatic progress.
Trump, however, insists on maintaining the blockade. “THE BLOCKAGE, which we will not lift until there is a ‘DEAL,’ is completely destroying Iran. They are losing $500 million a day, an unsustainable figure, even in the short term,” he posted on Truth Social.
“Iranian leaders forced hundreds of ships to head to the United States, mainly Texas, Louisiana and Alaska, to collect their oil,” he wrote in another article.
Trump praised U.S. forces, saying “our military has been extraordinary,” but sharply criticized major media outlets, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, arguing that their reporting creates a misleading impression that the United States is losing.
He said the opposing side had suffered significant losses and claimed that “their former leaders are mostly gone,” calling the situation “regime change.” He also said that “fake news media are rooting for Iran to win” but that such efforts would fail because “I’m in charge!” “.
Officials in Islamabad warn that the situation remains fluid amid heated rhetoric from Washington and Tehran. According to sources familiar with the matter, Vice President Vance is expected to leave Washington on Tuesday (today).
The second round of negotiations is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday (tomorrow), they said, although the White House has not officially confirmed the timetable but indicated the delegation is expected to visit soon.
Meanwhile, Iranian and US envoys held separate meetings with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Islamabad police officials to finalize security arrangements, underscoring Islamabad’s willingness to host the high-stakes dialogue.
Officials said preparations for the talks have entered their final stages, with U.S. advance teams continuing to arrive ahead of formal negotiations. Between Sunday and Monday evening, 11 planes carrying personnel, vehicles and operational equipment landed.
Sources said the arrival of advance teams is largely complete, while the main delegations are expected to arrive by Tuesday. They added that Iranian delegations could also reach Islamabad by Tuesday evening.
The sources noted that the arrangements for the second round closely mirror those made in the previous phase, adding that security in the twin cities has been significantly strengthened, with the deployment of over 18,000 personnel from the federal police and other agencies.
The urgency of the negotiations is heightened by the imminent expiration of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, brokered by Pakistan on April 7. The truce is set to expire Tuesday evening Washington time, which corresponds to Wednesday morning in Iran.
President Trump has given mixed signals about extending the ceasefire. At one point he warned that “if there is no agreement, the fighting will resume”, while in other remarks he suggested an extension remained possible if necessary.
(With contribution from our correspondent in Rawalpindi)
