US President Donald Trump has said that American negotiators will travel to Islamabad on Monday for a fresh round of talks with Iran, raising hopes of diplomacy even as tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz and the future of the fragile ceasefire.
Trump made the announcement through a social media post on Sunday, but did not initially name the full team. Later, White House-linked reporting said Vice President JD Vance is expected to lead the US delegation, along with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The new round of discussions comes after last weekend’s in-person talks ended without a breakthrough.
The latest diplomatic push comes just days before the current two-week ceasefire is due to expire on Wednesday. Trump also accused Iran of violating the truce by opening fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, a claim that has added to fears of another escalation in the already volatile region.
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In a sharply worded message, Trump warned that if Tehran refuses what he called a “fair and reasonable deal”, the United States could target major Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges. His remarks have further intensified global concern over the possibility of a wider confrontation.
However, Iran has not officially confirmed that it will attend the Islamabad talks. According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, there is currently no decision to send a negotiating delegation to Pakistan as long as the US naval blockade on Iranian ports remains in effect.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has also condemned the blockade, calling it a violation of the Pakistan-mediated ceasefire and describing it as “unlawful and criminal”. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the US action goes against international norms and undermines the already fragile diplomatic process.
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At the same time, Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has said that earlier talks with the US did make some progress, but major gaps still remain, especially over Tehran’s nuclear programme and the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump, meanwhile, has claimed there were “very good conversations” with Iran, even as he warned against what he described as pressure tactics over the crucial shipping route.
The Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the crisis. Before the war, the narrow passage carried around one-fifth of global oil shipments, making it one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. Continued disruption there has already pushed oil prices higher and shaken global markets.
In another sign of rising tensions inside Iran, Tasnim reported that four individuals, including two foreign nationals, were arrested in the country’s northwest for allegedly being part of a US-Israel-linked espionage network. The report said they were accused of importing satellite internet devices such as Starlink, which remains illegal in Iran.
For now, all eyes are on Islamabad. The proposed talks could become a crucial test of whether diplomacy can still hold the line before the ceasefire deadline expires and the region slips into another dangerous phase of conflict.
