Donald Trump told a reporter in Islamabad on Tuesday that US-Iranian peace negotiations could restart within the next two days, urging her to remain in Pakistan's capital for what he suggested could be imminent developments.
The president praised Pakistan's military leadership for its role in brokering the discussions, describing Field Marshal Asim Munir as doing a "great job" in arranging the talks. Trump's optimistic timeline comes as Islamabad works against a ticking clock: a two-week ceasefire is set to expire on April 22.
A Pakistani official tempered expectations slightly, saying he anticipated talks would begin soon but cautioned they might take a day or two longer than Trump's estimate suggested.
The diplomatic push marks an escalation in efforts to resolve the conflict. Israel and Lebanon held their first direct negotiations on their dispute in more than thirty years, conducted in Washington. The State Department characterized the discussions as "productive," though Hezbollah has signaled it will not accept any agreements brokered by the Israeli and Lebanese governments in those talks.
Separately, the Trump administration moved Tuesday to overturn convictions tied to January 6. The Department of Justice filed motions to vacate seditious conspiracy convictions against members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, marking another step in the administration's effort to overturn or erase cases related to the 2021 Capitol riot. Trump previously issued pardons and commutations to approximately 1,600 people charged in connection with the attack on his first day back in office.
In congressional developments, House Democrats introduced a measure to create a commission, to be led by Vice President JD Vance, tasked with assessing Trump's fitness for office and potentially removing him under the 25th Amendment. The bill, sponsored by House Judiciary Committee ranking Democrat Jamie Raskin, follows Trump's recent controversial statements, including warnings that Iran's "whole civilization will die" if it refused his demands, and a social media post depicting him as Jesus Christ. The move has virtually no chance in the Republican-controlled chamber.
Vance sided with Trump in the president's escalating dispute with Pope Leo. The vice president, a Catholic convert, suggested the pontiff should "stick to matters of morality" and said that if the pope "opines on matters of theology, you've got to be careful."
Meanwhile, the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog warned that North Korea has achieved "very serious" progress in its ability to produce additional nuclear weapons.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's confidence in a breakthrough feels like his usual optimism outpacing reality, but if Islamabad pulls off talks before April 22, it would actually be worth the hype."
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