2nd round talks likely tomorrow JD Vance leaves for Pakistan today Iran has yet to make a final call Trump c
Security personnel stand guard at 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 US and Iran in Islamabad, likely to take place just hours before a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire expires on Wednesday.
Despite lingering uncertainty surrounding the ‘Islamabad Round 2’ due to Iran’s reluctance to formally confirm its participation, a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance is set to travel to the federal capital along with senior officials.
There was some uncertainty about Vance’s whereabouts when 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 on Tuesday, with talks expected on Wednesday.
While there was confusion over the exact time of arrival, it was certain that the American delegation would come. However, Iran has maintained public tension, although developments on the ground in Islamabad suggest a different trajectory.
Even hours after Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tehran had not yet decided whether to participate in the talks, US military aircraft were seen landing at Nur Khan Airbase, indicating that preparations were moving forward regardless of public opinion.
Iran has accused the United States of not honoring the terms of the ceasefire and has called on Washington to end its naval blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz before entering into negotiations.
“Honoring commitments is the basis for meaningful dialogue. Deep historical mistrust in Iran of US government behavior remains, while unconstructive and contradictory signals from US officials carry a bitter message: they seek Iran’s surrender. Iranians do not submit to force,” wrote Iran’s president, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, the X.
Pakistani officials remained tight-lipped, but acknowledged privately that much of the uncertainty stemmed from “posturing” by both sides ahead of the talk. Diplomatic sources said backchannel contacts between Washington and Tehran remained active.
According to a report by a British news agency, Field Marshal Asim Munir established contact with President Trump. During the conversation, the report said, he stressed that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz was hindering diplomatic progress.
However, Trump insists on the continued blockade. “THE BLOCKADE, which we will not lift until there is a ‘DEAL’, is completely destroying Iran. They are losing $500 million a day, an unsustainable number, even in the short term,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“The Iranian leadership has forced hundreds of ships towards the US, mostly Texas, Louisiana and Alaska, to get their oil,” he wrote in a separate post.
Trump praised US forces and stated that “our military has been fantastic,” but sharply criticized major media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, claiming their reporting creates a false impression that the US is losing.
He claimed that the opposing side had suffered extensive losses and claimed that “their former leaders are mostly gone,” describing the situation as a “regime change”. He also said that the “Fake News media is clamoring for Iran to win” but such efforts would fail because “I am in charge!”.
Officials in Islamabad warn that the situation remains fluid amid heated rhetoric from both Washington and Tehran. According to people familiar with the plans, Vice President Vance is expected to leave Washington on Tuesday (today).
The second round of talks is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday (tomorrow), they said, although the White House has not formally confirmed the timing but has indicated the delegation is expected to leave 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 readiness to host the high-stakes dialogue.
Officials indicated that preparations for the talks have entered their final phase, with US advance teams continuing to arrive ahead of formal talks. Between Sunday and late Monday evening, 11 planes with personnel, vehicles and operational equipment had landed.
Sources said the arrival of advance teams has largely been completed, while the main delegations are expected to arrive on Tuesday. They added that Iranian delegations may also reach Islamabad on Tuesday evening.
The sources noted that the arrangements for Round 2 closely mirror those made in the previous phase, adding that security across the twin cities has been significantly tightened, with more than 18,000 personnel from the federal police and other agencies deployed.
The urgency of the talks is heightened by the impending expiration of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran brokered by Pakistan on 7 April. The ceasefire is set to expire Tuesday night, Washington time, corresponding to Wednesday morning in Iran.
President Trump has given mixed signals about whether the ceasefire will be extended. At one point he warned that “if there is no deal, fighting will resume”, while in other remarks he suggested an extension remained possible if required.
(With input from our Rawalpindi correspondent)
