Pakistan Advances Preparations for Possible Second Round of U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Talks

Byline: ISLAMABAD (AP) — April 21, 2026

Two regional officials stated on Tuesday that the United States and Iran have indicated plans for a new round of ceasefire talks in Islamabad, as a two-week truce approached its expiration. Neither the U.S. nor Iran has publicly confirmed the timing. Iranian state television reported that no official Iranian delegation had arrived in Pakistan’s capital.

A police officer walks past billboards near the Serena Hotel ahead of anticipated negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan has continued preparations for a potential second round of talks between Iran and the United States in Islamabad, as the ceasefire remained in effect. According to the two regional officials, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly, Pakistan-led mediators received confirmation that U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf plan to arrive in Islamabad early Wednesday to lead their respective delegations.

The ceasefire, which began on April 8, is scheduled to expire on Wednesday. Officials from both sides have maintained firm positions in public statements. U.S. President Donald Trump warned that failure to reach an agreement before the deadline could lead to renewed military action, stating that “lots of bombs” would “start going off.” Iran’s chief negotiator, Qalibaf, indicated that Tehran possesses unrevealed military capabilities, posting on X that Iran has been preparing “to reveal new cards on the battlefield” and does not accept negotiations “under the shadow of threats.”

Iranian state television aired a message on Tuesday stating that “no delegation from Iran has visited Islamabad … so far.” The outlet is state-run, and such broadcasts have previously reflected internal discussions within the Iranian government regarding responses to recent events, including the U.S. Navy’s seizure of an Iranian container ship over the weekend.

White House officials have confirmed that Vance would lead the U.S. delegation, while Iran has not publicly named its representative. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool via AP)

Strait of Hormuz Central to Dispute

The Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of the negotiations. The waterway carries approximately 20% of the world’s natural gas and crude oil shipments during normal operations. The conflict began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026. Iran closed the strait to international shipping on March 1 in response, according to Iranian statements at the time. The U.S. subsequently imposed a blockade on Iranian ports to pressure Tehran to reopen the strait.

Prior to the war, the strait had been open to international shipping. Trump has called for unimpeded transit through the waterway. The closure has driven up oil prices; Brent crude, a global benchmark, traded near $95 per barrel on Tuesday, a rise of more than 30% since February 28.

European Union transportation ministers convened in Brussels on Tuesday to address supply concerns, following a warning from the head of the International Energy Agency that Europe had “maybe six weeks” of jet fuel supplies left.

Over the weekend, Iran reported receiving new proposals from the U.S. but noted significant differences between the positions. The first round of talks, held in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, concluded without agreement. Key sticking points included Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, its support for regional proxies, and control of the strait. U.S. Vice President Vance cited Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear enrichment activities as a primary reason for the impasse.

Pakistan Officials Express Cautious Optimism Amid Uncertainties

Despite public statements from both sides and Iran’s denial of a delegation’s arrival, Pakistani officials have indicated confidence that talks could proceed. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Tuesday to discuss regional developments, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry. Dar also met with China’s ambassador to Pakistan. Beijing’s Foreign Ministry described the conflict as being at a “critical stage of transition between war and peace,” with spokesperson Guo Jiakun urging all parties to prioritize a political solution, uphold the ceasefire, and sustain negotiation momentum.

Security measures in Islamabad have been intensified, with thousands of personnel deployed and additional patrols along routes to the airport. Police officers stand guard at a checkpoint barricade ahead of potential negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

These arrangements exceed those during the first round of talks, according to Syed Mohammad Ali, a security analyst based in Islamabad. “Pakistan appears to be preparing for the possibility of visits by top U.S. and Iranian leaders if the talks advance to a stage where an agreement could be signed,” he told The Associated Press. The reliance on anonymous sources for confirmation of negotiators’ travel plans underscores uncertainties, as public confirmations from Washington and Tehran remain pending.

The ceasefire is expected to be extended if talks occur, based on prior indications, though no formal extension has been announced.

Related Developments: Israel-Lebanon Talks

Separate diplomatic efforts are underway. Officials from Israel, Lebanon, and the U.S. — speaking on condition of anonymity regarding sensitive negotiations — said that talks between Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to resume Thursday in Washington. The Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors held direct talks last week, the first in decades. Israel states the discussions aim to disarm Hezbollah and establish a peace agreement with Lebanon.

A 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon began on Friday, following clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants — which Iran supports — that erupted two days after the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Fighting in Lebanon has resulted in more than 2,290 deaths, according to authorities.

Since the war’s onset, Iranian authorities report at least 3,375 deaths in Iran. Additionally, 23 people have died in Israel, more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states, 15 Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, and 13 U.S. service members across the region.

The anonymous sourcing in reports of the U.S.-Iran talks highlights the challenges in verifying behind-the-scenes developments, particularly given the prior round’s failure to produce results and ongoing public divergences.

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Magdy reported from Cairo and Gambrell from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. David Rising and Huizhong Wu in Bangkok and Sam McNeil in Brussels contributed to this story.

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