{"id":124526,"date":"2026-04-21T19:35:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T14:35:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/?p=124526"},"modified":"2026-04-21T19:35:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T14:35:46","slug":"diplomatic-flurry-as-us-iran-truce-deadline-nears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/2026\/124526\/","title":{"rendered":"Diplomatic flurry as US-Iran truce deadline nears"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ISLAMABAD\/WASH\u00adIN\u00adGTON(National Times)- With the ceasefire between Iran and the US set to expire tomorrow (Wednesday), a US delegation is\u00a0expected<\/a>\u00a0to head to Islamabad today (Tuesday), while Tehran also appeared open to sending its team for the second round of peace talks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNN<\/em> reported that Vice President JD Vance and other top US officials were expected to depart for Islamabad on Tuesday, while an unnamed Iranian official told Reuters<\/em> that Tehran was considering attending talks following reported moves by Islamabad to end a US blockade of Iran\u2019s ports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there was no official announcement from Iran by the time this report went to press.Police officers divert traffic from a road leading to Serena Hotel, the venue for the expected US-Iran talks.\u2014 Reuters<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking about the talks, US President Don\u00adald Trump said the ceasefire ends on Wednesday evening, and told Bloo\u00admberg<\/em> it would be highly unlikely he would extend the two-week ceasefire<\/a> if a deal was not reached before the expiry of the ceasefire. The two-week truce was supposed to expire at 8pm (Eastern) on Tuesday, April 21. As per Trump\u2019s latest claim, it will now end on Wednesday evening US time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a separate post on Truth Social, he defended his war with Iran, saying that he was not persuaded by Israel to attack the country. \u201cThe results in Iran will be amazing,\u201d he said, adding, \u201cAnd if Iran\u2019s new leaders (regime change!) are smart, Iran can have a great and prosperous future!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a social media post, President Trump said he believed a nuclear deal the US was currently negotiating with Iran would be better than a 2015 international agreement to curb Tehran\u2019s nuclear programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticised \u201cunconstructive and contradictory\u201d signals by the US, saying they carried a \u201cbitter message\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHonouring commitments is the basis of meaningful dialogue,\u201d he said on X. \u201cDeep historical mistrust in Iran toward [the] US [government] conduct remains, while unconstructive and contradictory signals from American officials carry a bitter message; they seek Iran\u2019s surrender. Iranians do not submit to force.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also said that his country would try to end the Middle East war with \u201cintegrity, wisdom and expediency\u201d, state-run news agency IRNA<\/em> reported.Media and security personnel are seen on Constitution Avenue \u2014 Mohammad Asim \/ White Star<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran\u2019s foreign ministry said that the US was not serious about pursuing diplomacy, citing what it called \u201cviolations\u201d of their two-week ceasefire, AFP<\/em> reported. Its spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said a US attack <\/a>on an Iranian cargo ship, the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, and delays in implementing a ceasefire in Lebanon were all \u201cclear violations of the ceasefire\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran\u2019s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also said Tehran was continuing talks with the United States but was ready to take \u201cnecessary measures\u201d amid rising tensions, TRT<\/em> World reported. \u201cWe do not trust the enemy. At any moment, it may escalate the war,\u201d Ghalibaf said in televised remarks, according to the Mehr<\/em> news agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hormuz blockade<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tensions in the Middle East further escalated following the seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman by US forces on Sunday. Trump described the move as enforcement of restrictions on Iranian ports, while Tehran called it \u201cpiracy\u201d and responded with increased drone activity near US naval assets in the region surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The US has maintained its blockade<\/a> of Iranian ports, while Iran lifted and then reimposed its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The blockade also featured in a reported conversation between Pakistan\u2019s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and the US president. Reuters<\/em> reported on Monday that FM Munir told Trump the US blockade on Iranian ports was a hurdle to negotiations and that Trump said he would consider the army chief\u2019s advice. When asked about the report, President Trump told The Hill that FM Munir \u201cdidn\u2019t recommend anything on the blockade\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe blockade is very powerful, very strong. They lose $500 million a day with the blockade up,\u201d he said, referring to Iran. \u201cWe control it. They don\u2019t control it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diplomacy continues<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Against this backdrop of distrust, Pakistan continued its diplomacy to pave the way for a peace framework that could end the weeks-long war. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday received<\/a> a telephone call from Ant\u00f3nio Costa, Presi\u00addent of the European Council as both leaders expressed their desire for the continuation of dialogue between the United States and Iran for lasting peace in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called <\/a>his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi to discuss \u201cregional developments and ceasefire-related issues, exchanging views on ongoing coordination\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FM Dar \u201cemphasised the importance of continued dialogue and engagement at the earliest to resolve all pending issues, in order to promote regional peace and stability\u201d in the phone call. He also spoke to Australia\u2019s FM Penny Wong on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global efforts for peace<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

International powers also stepped up their diplomatic efforts to prevent any flare-up of hostilities, particularly due to the Strait of Hormuz blockade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, in which he reiterated the need to uphold the ceasefire and stressed the importance of continued diplomatic efforts. The Iranian side confirmed its readiness to do everything in its power to ensure the uninterrupted passage of Russian ships and cargo through the Strait of Hormuz, AFP<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hormuz was also the highlight of a telephone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Saudi Arabia\u2019s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Mr Xi said that \u201cnormal traffic\u201d through the vital strait \u201cshould be maintained\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNormal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz should be maintained, this is in the shared interests of regional countries and the international community,\u201d Xi said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xi also stressed in the call with the Saudi prince that China \u201cadvocates for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire\u201d, CCTV<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Russia said it hoped negotiations involving Iran would continue in order to avoid negative consequences for the region and the global economy. While Russia was not acting as a mediator, it was ready to assist if needed, Reuters<\/em> reported the Kremlin spokesperson as saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron called for the United States and Iran to de-escalate amid increased tensions over the weekend over the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera<\/em> reported. He also denounced the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as \u201ca mistake on both sides\u201d, AFP<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Security in Islamabad<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met <\/a>the US and Iranian envoys to assure them of foolproof security measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his meeting with Iran\u2019s Dr Reza Amiri Moghadam, he informed that preparations for the second phase of the Islamabad talks had been completed and foolproof security arrangements had been made for foreign delegations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a separate meeting with US Ambassador Natalie Baker, he said special security arrangements had been made for all distinguished guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A security official told Dawn<\/em> that unprecedented arrangements had been made for the second round of the talks, claiming that, for the time a force of 20,000 additional police officials had been called in from Punjab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTroops have been deployed everywhere along with Rangers, including Margalla Hills, Nur Khan Airbase, VVIP route, entry and exit points of Islam\u00adabad and highly secured red zone, which houses important government buildings, the Parliament House, the Supreme Court and the Diplomatic Enclave.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ISLAMABAD\/WASH\u00adIN\u00adGTON(National Times)- With the ceasefire between Iran and the US set to expire tomorrow (Wednesday), a US delegation is\u00a0expected\u00a0to head to Islamabad today (Tuesday), while Tehran also appeared open to sending its team for the second round of peace talks. CNN reported that Vice President JD Vance and other top US officials were expected to depart […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":124527,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-124526","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","entry"],"yoast_head":"\nDiplomatic flurry as US-Iran truce deadline nears - Nation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/2026\/124526\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Diplomatic flurry as US-Iran truce deadline nears - Nation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"ISLAMABAD\/WASH\u00adIN\u00adGTON(National Times)- With the ceasefire between Iran and the US set to expire tomorrow (Wednesday), a US delegation is\u00a0expected\u00a0to head to Islamabad today (Tuesday), while Tehran also appeared open to sending its team for the second round of peace talks. 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