The Iranian regime addressed President Trump’s recent remarks about a potential second round of peace talks in Pakistan over the weekend.
Previously, the first round of face-to-face negotiations was held in Islamabad on April 11 and 12. This marked a significant engagement between the U.S. and Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and lasted around 21 hours.
Vice President JD Vance led the U.S. delegation, while Iran was represented by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Key topics included Iran’s nuclear ambitions, regional security, control over the Strait of Hormuz, potential reparations, and the status of frozen Iranian funds.
U.S. officials aimed to secure a firm commitment from Iran against developing nuclear weapons. Conversely, Iran sought assurances on the ceasefire’s application across various regions, including Lebanon, along with economic and security guarantees. Unfortunately, no compromises were reached.
Following the extensive discussions, Vice President Vance remarked that the failure to agree was likely more detrimental to Iran than to the United States. He noted that while no agreement was finalized, the ceasefire from earlier in the month had remained intact throughout the week.
On Friday, President Trump indicated that Iran might be open to further negotiations soon, suggesting additional discussions about an Iran deal could occur over the weekend. “There will probably be more talks this weekend,” he stated in a comment to The Economic Times.
Responding to these statements, Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh clarified that no next meeting dates had been set. He remarked, “We are focusing on finalizing the framework of understanding. We don’t want to engage in talks that are likely to fail and lead to escalations.”
Khatibzadeh also mentioned that while significant progress was noted in the Islamabad discussions, the lack of consensus stemmed from a “maximalist approach” that sought to isolate Iran from international norms.
Amid these diplomatic exchanges, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed once again, with incidents of ships being fired upon, prompting many to alter their routes.
