ABUJA, Nigeria — Senior United States officials, including Vice President JD Vance, are expected to travel to Pakistan on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, for what sources describe as a possible second round of negotiations related to the ongoing conflict with Iran, even as Iranian authorities publicly deny plans to return to talks.
The planned trip comes amid heightened tensions following recent military actions and diplomatic exchanges between Washington and Tehran.
Officials familiar with the matter said the delegation would seek to reopen discussions aimed at de-escalation, though no formal agreement on the meeting has been confirmed by Iran.
Diverging Positions Ahead of Talks
President Donald Trump expressed confidence that Iran would ultimately engage in negotiations, speaking in a phone interview on “The John Fredericks Show,” a conservative radio programme.
“Well, they’re going to negotiate, and if they don’t, they’re going to see problems like they’ve never seen before,” President Trump said.
He added, “Hopefully they’ll make a fair deal, and they’ll build their country back up,” and asserted that under such an agreement, “they will not have a nuclear weapon.”
Mr. Trump also defended recent U.S. military actions, stating, “And I have to say we had no choice in Iran.
It wasn’t like we had a choice. We had to do it.” He concluded, “We’ve done a great job, and we’ll get it closed out, and everybody’s going to be happy.”
Iranian officials, however, have rejected the premise of renewed engagement. Mohammad Ghalibaf, identified as Iran’s top negotiator, criticised the U.S. approach, saying Washington was attempting to turn the negotiating table “into a table of surrender.”
“We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield,” Mr. Ghalibaf said on Monday.
Ceasefire Timeline and Military Developments
The diplomatic uncertainty unfolds as the deadline for a temporary ceasefire approaches.
Trump has extended the truce until Wednesday evening Eastern Time, indicating it is “highly unlikely” he would grant a further extension if no agreement is reached.
In a separate development, the United States Air Force announced it would extend the operational life of its A-10 Thunderbolt ground-attack aircraft until at least 2030.
Officials said the aircraft had recently played a role in the rescue of a downed airman.
Maritime Tensions and Regional Impact
Tensions have also spilled into maritime activity. Iran’s Foreign Ministry has demanded the release of an Iranian cargo vessel seized by the U.S. Navy on Sunday, along with “its sailors, crew and their families,” and has warned of retaliation.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed significantly, with only 16 vessels reported to have passed through on Monday.
The reduced movement reflects caution among ship operators amid uncertainty surrounding the ceasefire and has contributed to pressure on airlines facing shortages of jet fuel.
Parallel Diplomatic Efforts
Separately, a second round of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon is scheduled to take place on Thursday in Washington, according to officials, signalling broader diplomatic activity across the region.
Despite preparations for renewed dialogue, the gap between Washington’s expectations and Tehran’s stated position underscores the uncertainty surrounding whether negotiations will proceed.
