US President Donald Trump on Monday said an Iran deal could be signed “today” in Pakistan, adding that Vice President JD Vance, along with special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner, is en route to Islamabad for the second round of talks aimed at ending the conflict.
According to the New York Post and Fox News, which were among the first to report the developments, the delegation is expected to land within hours, even as Iran said earlier it has no plans to attend a new round of negotiations with the United States.
Catch The Latest Updates From The Peace Talks In Islamabad
Meanwhile, RedboxGlobalIndia and Al-Arabiya reported that an American aircraft landed at Nur Khan Airbase, though the occupants were not identified. Al-Arabiya also
released a video purportedly showing a US military aircraft in Rawalpindi. News18 could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
The US President also expressed willingness to meet senior Iranian leaders if a breakthrough is reached, he told the New York Post in a brief interview. “They’re heading over now. They’ll be there tonight,” he was quoted as saying.
“I have no problem meeting them. If they want to meet, and we have some very capable people — but I have no problem meeting them,” Trump said, referring to Iran’s leadership, while reiterating that Tehran must abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Last week, when asked if he might travel to Pakistan to sign an agreement, the US President added: I might go, yeah. If the deal is signed in Islamabad, I might go.”
He added that Iran has the “potential to thrive” if it complies with the condition that it does not develop nuclear weapons.
However, Iran has signalled reluctance over the talks, with its foreign ministry saying no decision has been taken on participating in the next round and accusing Washington of not being serious about the diplomatic process.
The US Navy’s seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship has cast doubt over President Donald Trump’s announcement, even as Pakistani officials told the Associated Press that Tehran has indicated willingness to send a delegation for a second round of talks in Islamabad this week.
The officials said there is cautious optimism that delegations from both Iran and the United States could travel to Islamabad, despite the recent escalation.
What Happened During First Round Of Talks
US Vice President JD Vance said Washington had made its “red lines” clear and that “the ball is in the Iranian court” after the first round of discussions with an Iranian delegation led by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, which also included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Iran has blamed Washington for making maximalist demands, but its leaders in recent hours have not dismissed efforts by world leaders to bring both sides back to the negotiating table.
The fragile two-week truce agreed on April 8 to allow time for a lasting ceasefire has remained in place, even as tensions persist around the Strait of Hormuz, with a US naval blockade of Iranian ports and Iranian restrictions on shipping straining the agreement.
