US-Iran Ceasefire Talks: The United States has struck a cautious but confident tone ahead of a potential second round of peace talks with Iran, warning that President Donald Trump can use “number of options”
if negotiations with Tehran fail to reach a conclusion.
The truce, set to expire on April 22, has opened a narrow window for talks to end a conflict that has killed more than 4,000 people across West Asia, with the overwhelming majority of casualties reported in Iran and Lebanon.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Washington believes negotiations could soon resume, crediting recent military operations and Trump’s hardline approach for bringing both sides closer to an agreement.
“We’re on the brink of a deal,” she said on Fox News’ “Hannity” program, adding that if diplomacy fails, Trump “as commander-in-chief still has a number of options at his disposal that he’s unafraid to use.” She emphasised that the Trump has “proven before he does not bluff — when he makes a promise, he follows through on it.”
Amid uncertainty over Iran and the United States’ participation in the next round of talks, Washington has indicated it is moving ahead with plans to send a delegation to Islamabad, even as Tehran’s final decision remains unclear.
Trump also confirmed that the United States would take part, saying Iran was “supposed to be there” and that both sides had agreed in principle to attend.
However, Tehran has sent mixed signals, at one point threatening to skip the meeting after the US seized an Iranian-flagged vessel near the Strait of Hormuz.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the country is considering participation but has not made a final decision. The official said Tehran is “positively reviewing” the possibility of joining the talks, though significant obstacles remain.
Meanwhile, Iran parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has accused Trump of attempting to pressure Tehran into submission, warning that Iran is prepared to escalate if negotiations are conducted “under the shadow of threats.”
The truce, announced by Trump on April 7, is expected to end this week, with a Pakistani source indicating the deadline would fall at 8 pm ET on Wednesday, corresponding to midnight GMT or 3.30 am Thursday in Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said “continued violations of the ceasefire” by the United States pose a major obstacle to diplomacy, the report mentioned.
