In a significant breakthrough, Germany has said that the United States and Iran are preparing to hold direct talks as diplomatic efforts have been intensified to end the ongoing Middle-East war.
While speaking
to Deutschlandfunk radio as reported by Al-Jazeera, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has said that Tehran and Washington have already held indirect contacts and are now preparing for direct talks.
He further claimed preparations were underway for a face-to-face meeting between representatives of both sides, likely to take place soon in Pakistan.
“Based on my information there have been indirect contacts, and preparations have been made to meet directly. That would be very soon in Pakistan, apparently,” he said.
The comments came against the backdrop of escalating tensions following US and Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28, triggering a wider regional conflict and disrupting global energy markets.
As reported earlier, diplomatic efforts to end the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran have intensified, with Pakistan and Turkey playing facilitators. Top security and diplomatic sources in Ankara and Islamabad say that behind‑the‑scenes diplomacy has recently entered a more advanced stage, with both mediator states sharing a detailed road map for negotiations with officials from the US and Iran.
Pakistani officials claim that US authorities have given full consent for Islamabad to host talks with Iranian representatives, and that Tehran has signalled openness to the process with security conditions. Iranian delegates, according to these sources, have requested guarantees for safe conduct from undisclosed locations to the mediation venue before committing fully to in‑person negotiations.
Officials from both Tehran and Washington have reportedly shared their respective conditions and priorities through Pakistan and Turkey, who are relaying messages and fine‑tuning common ground.
US President Donald Trump had earlier announced a five-day pause in strikes targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure, citing “productive” talks. He later extended the pause to 10 days until April 6, saying negotiations were “going very well.”
“As per Iranian Government request, please let this statement serve to represent that I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days to Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8 P.M., Eastern Time. Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Despite diplomatic signals, fighting has continued across the region. Iran has carried out retaliatory strikes on Israel and US-linked targets, while tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted global shipping, pushing up oil prices and affecting energy supplies worldwide.
The United States has also stepped up its military posture in the region, with reports indicating it is considering deploying additional troops to expand its operational options even as talks continue.
