US Vice-President JD Vance is set to travel to Islamabad on Tuesday, leading the American delegation, for potential talks with Iran. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s special envoy and son-in-law respectively, are expected to join him. As the previously declared ceasefire expires on April 22, Iran is yet to decide on continuing negotiations following recent events.
Iran calls out US for ‘unconstructive and contradictory signals’
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasised on a ‘deep historical mistrust’ of the United States and criticised American officials for what he described as ‘unconstructive and contradictory signals’. He alleged the US of attempting to force Tehran into submission. “Iranians do not submit to force,” said Pezeshkian.
However, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran was ‘positively reviewing’ the decision to attend the talks. According to reports, Iran’s delegation would be led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf if the meeting takes place.
Ghalibaf echoed Pezeshkian’s statement that Iran would not engage in negotiations under threat. He warned that Tehran was ready to ‘reveal new cards on the battlefield’ in a post on X early Tuesday. He accused Trump of trying to turn negotiations into a ‘table of surrender’ or an excuse for further conflict.
Tehran has also called for an end to the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz while Trump stood his ground that Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. The US President expressed he was open to meeting Iranian leaders personally.
Confusion over timing of the travel
There was a brief confusion over the timing of the travel of the US delegation following a statement by Trump to the New York Post that Vance and his team were ‘heading over now’. US officials later clarified that Vance was expected to leave on Tuesday morning if the talks were confirmed. If Iran agrees to the talks, the second round of negotiations could take place on Wednesday.
Trump extended the current ceasefire by 24 hours, announcing that it would now expire on Wednesday evening, Washington Time. The decision was made to allow space for the negotiations in Islamabad.
