The ongoing US-Israel war on Iran has reached a critical diplomatic deadline. U.S. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to travel to Islamabad, Pakistan. He leads a diplomatic delegation attempting to negotiate an end to the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The group includes President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
They face a tight deadline. A temporary two-week ceasefire expires on April 22.
Iranian participation remains unconfirmed. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran will not negotiate “under the shadow of threats.” He warned the country is “prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield.” Despite this, Pakistani mediators led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir report receiving positive signals regarding Iranian engagement ahead of the ceasefire deadline.
This marks the second attempt at direct negotiations. The first round of the “Islamabad Talks” occurred on April 11 and April 12. Those meetings collapsed after 21 hours over disagreements regarding long-term uranium enrichment limits and continued control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Following that collapse, the United States escalated its economic pressure campaign. The U.S. military enforced a strict naval blockade on vessels entering and leaving Iranian ports. Pakistan is deeply invested in a resolution. The nation relies heavily on oil and gas transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The blockade has caused severe fuel shortages and immediate economic fallout in Pakistan, forcing Islamabad into the role of primary mediator.