United States, Iran nearing an agreement? Will talks resume? What Trump indicated?
The United States and Iran are nearing an agreement ahead of the ceasefire scheduled to expire on April 21. According to U.S. media reports, negotiations between the two sides have progressed, although some differences still remain.
US President Donald Trump has indicated that talks aimed at ending the conflict in Iran could resume this week.
These talks had ended inconclusively in Islamabad last Saturday, following which the United States imposed a blockade on Iranian ports.
Officials from the Gulf region, Pakistan, and Iran have also stated that teams from the US and Iran could return to Pakistan later this week, although no specific date has been finalized yet.
Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey are playing the role of mediators. On the U.S. side, Vice President J.D. Vance—working alongside Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—is actively engaged in the negotiations and the sharing of draft proposals.
According to officials, the ceasefire could be extended to facilitate the deal, although the United States has not yet given its formal consent.
Pakistani delegation arrives in Tehran
According to sources, Pakistani officials are expecting a “major breakthrough” in talks between Iran and the United States on Tehran’s nuclear programme, as Islamabad steps up diplomatic efforts to end the war.
The optimism came as a high-level Pakistani delegation, headed by Army Chief Asim Munir, arrived in Tehran to deliver a message from the US to the Iranian leadership.
Munir has met with Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi; he is reportedly carrying a message from the United States.
Pressure on Iran to reach an agreement is mounting: US
U.S. officials state that pressure on Iran to reach an agreement is mounting due to the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and the economic pressure imposed by the Trump administration.
The United States has claimed that, following the blockade, no ships have reached Iranian ports over the past 48 hours. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), nine vessels were turned away during this period.
Iran exports approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil daily. This generates an estimated revenue of $140 million; however, the blockade could significantly impact these earnings. Approximately 90% of Iran's oil exports originate from Kharg Island, an operation that now faces disruption due to the blockade.
According to U.S. officials, if Iran is unable to export its oil, it may be forced to halt production, resulting in economic losses. Even prior to the conflict, Iran's economy was already under strain due to sanctions; the current situation has now exacerbated these difficulties.