Donald Trump signaled that US-Iranian negotiations could resume within 48 hours, citing progress under Pakistan's military leadership as the two sides work against a ticking clock to reach agreement before a ceasefire window closes.
Speaking Tuesday to a reporter in Islamabad, Trump praised Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, calling him "fantastic" and crediting him with arranging the talks. "You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we're more inclined to go there," Trump told the journalist.
A Pakistani official offered a slightly more cautious timeline, saying talks could restart soon but might take a day or two longer than Trump suggested. "The game is on," the official said.
The diplomatic push comes after 21 hours of initial talks in Islamabad over the weekend that ended Sunday morning with US Vice President JD Vance walking out. Vance said Iran had failed to make an "affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon." The two sides are racing to resume negotiations before a two-week ceasefire expires on April 22.
Munir has cultivated relationships with both Trump and Iran's Revolutionary Guards, making him a credible intermediary. Trump has previously called him his "favourite field marshal."
The Islamabad round exposed a fundamental divide over uranium enrichment. Vance's delegation demanded a 20-year halt to Iran's enrichment program. Iran countered with a shorter moratorium of less than 10 years. An Iranian official rejected the American position as excessive, stating: "Iran did not surrender at the battlefield, neither will it surrender behind the table."
An unresolved issue remains Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which approaches weapons-grade purity and is believed stored in underground shafts in central Iran. At earlier Geneva negotiations, Iran offered to dilute the material to extend the timeline for producing a nuclear warhead. The US has demanded complete removal.
Vance signaled flexibility when discussing prospects for future talks on Monday evening. "The big question from here on out is whether Iranians will have enough flexibility," he told Fox News, acknowledging that Iran had shown some willingness to negotiate in Islamabad but "didn't move far enough."
Iran has demanded that Vance lead any future US delegation, citing distrust of Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner as reliable negotiating partners.
The accelerated timeline for talks reflects broader pressure on both sides. Trump imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports this week, with US Central Command reporting that six merchant vessels were directed to turn around within a 24-hour period and no ships successfully transited past American forces. One tanker, the Rich Starry, initially reversed course but later passed through the waterway.
Iran has responded by largely closing the Strait of Hormuz to other Gulf traffic, a chokepoint through which one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas flows. Oil prices had spiked above $100 per barrel but dipped to around $95 after reports Tuesday of possible negotiations.
The blockade and strait closure follow the US-Israeli attack on Iran that began February 28, which in turn triggered escalation across the region. Hezbollah, siding with Iran, launched rockets at Israel. Israel responded with sustained bombardment of Beirut and southern Lebanon, including an invasion.
In a parallel development, Israel and Lebanon held unprecedented negotiations in Washington on the cross-border conflict. Hezbollah stated it will not recognize any agreements reached between Israeli and Lebanese government negotiators.
Pakistan's involvement extends beyond mediation. Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey gathered in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss next steps with Pakistani counterparts. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to depart Wednesday for visits to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar to build regional support for the peace process and discuss proposals to reopen the strait and address Iran's war reparations demands. His regional tour may be truncated if negotiations reconvene quickly.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's optimism about a near-term restart feels premature given the gulf between both sides on enrichment timelines, but Pakistan's heavyweight presence and the economic pain of dual blockades are finally concentrating minds."
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