Islamabad, Pakistan. Iran is considering attending peace talks with the United States in Pakistan, a senior Iranian official told Reuters, as Islamabad moves to address a US blockade of Iran’s ports that has hindered negotiations. The official said no final decision has been made.
Iran reviews participation as ceasefire deadline nears
The Iranian official said Tehran is “positively reviewing” participation in the talks, describing the stance as a shift from earlier statements rejecting attendance and threatening retaliation for US actions. The official said Pakistan, acting as mediator, is making efforts to lift the blockade and facilitate Iran’s involvement.
A two-week ceasefire is set to expire this week. The ceasefire appeared at risk after the United States said it seized an Iranian cargo ship attempting to bypass the blockade, prompting Tehran to warn of retaliation.
US and Pakistan mediation efforts
A Pakistani security source said the country’s key mediator, Field Marshal Asim Munir, told US President Donald Trump that the blockade was hindering talks, and that Trump had agreed to consider lifting it.
The United States aims to begin negotiations in Pakistan before the ceasefire expires, with extensive security measures already in place in Islamabad.
Uncertainty over US delegation and Tehran’s response
A source said Vice President JD Vance remains in the United States, denying reports that he is already en route to Islamabad for the talks.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized what he described as mixed signals from Washington, saying they suggested an attempt to force Iran into submission. “Iranians do not submit to force,” he wrote on X.
What do you think Pakistan’s mediation could mean for the prospects of US-Iran talks before the ceasefire expires?