Trump hints at second round of negotiations with Iran

SadaNews - On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that discussions regarding Iran may resume in Pakistan within the next two days, as matching sources reported the possibility of the U.S. and Iranian negotiating teams returning to Islamabad, indicating the continuation of the diplomatic path despite the previous round's stagnation. This comes at a time when political pressure coincides with escalating military tension around the Strait of Hormuz, following a week of ceasefire.

In an interview with the "New York Post," Trump said, "Something may happen within the next two days, and we are leaning more towards going there." He mentioned that the Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir is doing a "great job" in the talks, adding, "He is fantastic, so it is likely that we will be going back there."

This statement came as tensions between the United States and Iran intensified after Washington announced a blockade on Iranian ports, and Tehran threatened to attack targets across the region, while Pakistan confirmed it is intensifying efforts to bring both sides together for a new round of talks.

Although the ceasefire announced last week appeared to hold firm, the confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz threatens to reignite hostilities and deepen the economic consequences of the war across the entire region.

The meeting held earlier this week in the Pakistani capital, four days after the ceasefire announcement last Tuesday, was the first direct encounter between American and Iranian officials in over ten years and marked the highest level of talks since the Iranian Islamic Revolution in 1979.

The negotiations aimed at permanently ending the conflict that began on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran failed to reach an agreement last Sunday, despite Pakistan proposing to host a second round within the upcoming days.

According to Reuters, citing a source involved in the talks, the date has not yet been set, "but both sides may return soon, possibly by the end of this week." A senior Iranian source stated, "No specific date has been established; the negotiators have kept the period from Friday to Sunday open."

The first source told Reuters that a proposal was made to both the U.S. and Iran for them to resume their delegations and continue the discussions. Two Pakistani sources familiar with the negotiations noted that Islamabad is in communication with both sides regarding the timing of the next round, with a high likelihood that the meeting will take place over the weekend.

Additionally, two U.S. officials, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations, stated on Monday that discussions are still ongoing regarding holding a new round. They added that the venue, timing, and composition of the delegations have not yet been determined, "but it may be held on Thursday," according to the Associated Press.

A senior Pakistani government official stated, "We have reached out to Iran and received a positive response that they would be open to a second round of talks." The Associated Press quoted two Pakistani officials who requested to remain anonymous for not being authorized to speak to the media, stating that the first round of talks was part of an ongoing diplomatic process and not a standalone attempt.

In contrast, the official Irna news agency, citing diplomatic sources, reported that Pakistan remains committed to continuing mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran but confirmed that no agreements have yet been reached concerning holding a new round of talks in Islamabad or in any other format.

The agency quoted another diplomatic source saying, in response to inquiries in Islamabad, that any upcoming round could take place anywhere and at any time, but no official decision has yet been made in this regard.