US, Iranian teams could return to Islamabad for 2nd round of peace talks this week: sources

Coverage Comparison

Reports from multiple outlets indicate that negotiating teams from the United States and Iran could return to Islamabad as early as the end of this week for a second round of talks, days after the highest-level engagement between the two countries in decades ended without a breakthrough. The possibility was reported by five sources, according to Reuters, with a senior Iranian source saying no firm date had been set but that delegations were keeping Friday through Sunday open. Pakistani sources told Reuters and AFP that Islamabad was in communication with both sides and had received a positive response from Iran, though the venue was not yet final.

US President Donald Trump told The New York Post that talks could resume over the next two days and that he was inclined to return to Pakistan, praising the Pakistani field marshal's role. He also said in a Fox interview that the war with Iran is "very close to over." However, US Vice President JD Vance said the previous talks ended because the Iranian team lacked approval to cut a deal, and that it was up to Iran to take the next step. Reuters noted it could not immediately verify Trump's assertion that Iran had called to work a deal.

Key Claims

A central claim, reported by Reuters and carried by several outlets, is that both countries could return to Islamabad as early as the end of this week. The report cites five sources, with a senior Iranian source saying a date was not yet decided. Pakistani officials, speaking anonymously, said they were working to arrange the meeting and to secure an extended ceasefire.

A second claim, reported by multiple outlets including Dawn and the Jerusalem Post, concerns the status of the talks. While no final agreement was reached, most key points were reportedly agreed upon, according to a statement from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, as published by Dawn. Akram emphasized that optimism should be maintained and that dialogue remains the only sustainable path to peace.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said that exchanges with the US via Pakistan had continued since Sunday, and that a Pakistani delegation might arrive for further discussions. He asserted that Iran's right to enrich uranium was "indisputable" but that the level of enrichment is "negotiable." Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's lead negotiator, was reported by the South China Morning Post as saying no deal had been reached because Washington failed to win Tehran's trust.

A claim that the Iranian delegation faced security threats en route to Islamabad was reported by Al-Mayadeen, a Hezbollah-affiliated outlet, and carried by the Jerusalem Post. Professor Mohammad Marandi, who accompanied the delegation, told the outlet they were warned of a potential attack on their aircraft and took an alternative route back.

The ceasefire, brokered on April 8, is set to expire on April 22. Reports indicate it is increasingly precarious, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi blaming the US for excessive demands, according to a single-source report.

Perspectives

Pakistan's role is highlighted across reports, with officials and analysts describing it as a constructive facilitator. PTI's statement underscored Pakistan's potential to act as a bridge for peace, and Pakistani officials expressed optimism about hosting another round.

US officials, including President Trump and Vice President Vance, have signaled a willingness to continue talks but cast Iran as not yet ready to make necessary commitments. Trump's comments about the war being "very close to over" suggest a desire for a swift resolution.

Iranian officials and analysts, as reported by outlets like the South China Morning Post, emphasize deep distrust of the US and accuse Washington of failing to win Tehran's confidence. Ghalibaf's statement reflects this view, as does Marandi's characterization of the US as "deceitful."

Analysts cited by the South China Morning Post warn that the path forward depends on pragmatic adjustments and that a strategic miscalculation could trigger renewed conflict. The threat of a naval blockade of Iranian ports, reported as a US move, has drawn warnings from Tehran that it would violate the ceasefire.