UPDATE: US-Iran talks remain uncertain as Tehran says no decision reached, despite ongoing contacts and Pakistan pushing for negotiations.
Key Developments
- US and Iran could return to Pakistan for new talks later this week.
- First round ended without breakthrough despite ceasefire context.
- Key disputes include Hormuz, sanctions, and Iran’s nuclear program.
Talks May Resume in Islamabad
Negotiating teams from the United States and Iran may return to Pakistan in the coming days to resume talks aimed at ending the war in the Gulf, according to officials cited by Reuters news agency.
Iranian and Pakistani sources said discussions are ongoing regarding a second round of negotiations in Islamabad, although no final date has been confirmed.
According to Reuters, an official at the Iranian embassy in Islamabad said: “The coming rounds of talks can come sometime later this week or earlier next week. But nothing is finalized as of now.”
A senior Iranian source reportedly added that “no firm date has been set, with the delegations keeping Friday through Sunday open.”
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No Decision on New Talks
However, the Iranian news agency IRNA reported that plans for a second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran remain uncertain.
According to an Iranian diplomatic source, no official decision has been made to hold a new round of talks with Washington.
The source added that message exchanges between Iran and Pakistan are ongoing following the initial round of negotiations, but no agreement has been reached regarding talks in Islamabad or any other location.
This contrasts with earlier indications cited by Reuters that both sides could return to Islamabad later this week.
Pakistan Facilitating Next Round
Pakistani officials indicated that Islamabad is actively coordinating between the two sides.
A senior Pakistani official told Reuters that the government had reached out to Tehran and received a positive response: “We got a positive response that they will be open to a second round of talks.”
Officials reportedly added that Pakistan remains in contact with both delegations and is working to finalize timing for a potential meeting over the coming weekend.
First Round Ended Without Breakthrough
The planned second round follows an initial meeting held in Islamabad last weekend, which ended without a breakthrough.
The talks marked the first direct encounter between US and Iranian officials in more than a decade, and the highest-level engagement since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf led their respective delegations.
Following the talks, Vance said: “We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer,” adding: “We’ll see if the Iranians accept it.”
Key Issues Unresolved
Major points of contention remain unresolved, including control of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program, a permanent ceasefire in Lebanon, and international sanctions.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a central issue, as Iran has effectively blocked the waterway while the United States has vowed to reopen it.
No immediate confirmation of the new talks has been issued by US officials, and the White House did not respond to requests for comment, according to Reuters.
(PC, Reuters)
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