US and Iranian negotiation teams will return to Islamabad later this week to resume peace talks, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions.
The talks will focus on easing tensions and exploring steps toward a broader agreement, the sources said. It was not clear which officials would take part on either side or how long the discussions would last.
The announcement comes days after the first round of talks in Islamabad collapsed on April 12 after more than 21 hours of negotiations. US Vice President Vance, who led the American delegation, said Iran did not accept Washington’s final and best offer. Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that no deal was reached, though both sides exchanged messages and draft texts during the session. Trump posted on Truth Social after the talks ended that Iran was unwilling to give up its nuclear ambitions.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday that a next round of negotiations was expected soon, signaling that Islamabad intended to keep its mediation role alive. Pakistan brokered the original ceasefire on April 7 and hosted the first round of talks.
The US declared a blockade on all Iranian ports on Monday at 1400 GMT following the collapse of the Islamabad talks. Iran called the blockade illegal and an act of piracy and warned that no port in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman would be safe. China called the blockade dangerous and irresponsible on Tuesday. The return of both sides to the negotiating table signals that despite the escalation, the two-week ceasefire window that expires on April 21 continues to hold as a framework for diplomacy.
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