White House says second round of US-Iran talks likely to be held in Pakistan Islamabad has turned into the front line of diplomacy, with Washington looking to return there for fresh negotiations. Karoline Leavitt described Pakistan as the "only mediator" in the current negotiations, praising its role in facilitating dialogue between the two sides. Amid boiling tensions and a ticking ceasefire deadline, the White House has put forward a cautiously hopeful message on Iran, describing talks as "productive and ongoing" while dismissing reports that it officially pushed for a ceasefire. The developments come at a critical juncture, with a fragile ceasefire set to expire on April 22. There has been some progress behind the scenes, the lack of any formal deal and ongoing military pressure on the ground show that the situation is still far from resolved. Speaking at a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that diplomatic engagement with Tehran is continuing. "These conversations are productive and ongoing, and that's where we are right now. I've also seen some reporting about the potential in-person discussions. Again, those discussions are being had, but nothing is official until you hear it from us here at the White House, but we feel good about the prospects of a deal," Leavitt said. Meanwhile, she rejected reports that the United States had requested a ceasefire in the Iran war, calling it inaccurate. She added that the US has not formally sought an extension of the current truce. When a reporter asked whether the potential second round of talks would be held in Islamabad, she responded: "They would very likely be in the same place as they were last time, yes." PAKISTAN DRIVES US-IRAN DIPLOMATIC PUSH Islamabad has turned into the front line of diplomacy, with Washington looking to return there for fresh negotiations. Karoline Leavitt described Pakistan as the "only mediator" in the current negotiations, praising its role in facilitating dialogue between the two sides. "The Pakistanis have been incredible mediators throughout this process, and we really appreciate their friendship and their efforts to bring this deal to a close, so they are the only mediator in this negotiation," she said. The statement comes as a high-level Pakistani delegation, led by Field Marshal Asim Munir, travelled to Tehran as part of efforts to keep communication channels open. Asim Munir met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during the visit and both sides hinted towards support for continued dialogue and regional stability. IRAN REAFFIRMS PEACE COMMITMENT Following the meeting, Abbas Araghchi said Tehran remains committed to promoting peace and stability in the region. "I am very pleased to have welcomed Field Marshal Asim Munir to Iran," Araghchi said in a message released after the talks. He also praised Pakistan’s role in hosting negotiations, describing it as a reflection of the "depth and strength" of ties between the two countries. "Our commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region remains firm, and this commitment is shared between us," he said. Earlier, Iran had confirmed that messages were being exchanged with the United States through Pakistan, indicating that back-channel diplomacy remains active despite the failure of recent talks to produce a breakthrough. The renewed diplomatic push follows a round of direct talks in Islamabad last weekend that ended without an agreement, despite nearly 21 hours of discussions. The war, launched by the United States alongside Israel on February 28, has since escalated into a regional crisis.
White House says second round of US-Iran talks likely to be held in Pakistan Islamabad has turned into the front line of diplomacy, with Washington looking to return there for fresh negotiations. Karoline Leavitt described Pakistan as the "only mediator" in the current negotiatio…
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International mediators have proposed a 10-day ceasefire between the United States and Iran, according to a senior Iranian official cited in reports. The measure is described as intended to reduce hostilities and allow renewed talks on a prior interim agreement.
Both sides are assessing next steps in the current regional security situation.
Reports indicate that a US-Iran ceasefire has broken down amid renewed fighting, with the potential impact of mediation efforts by Pakistan, Qatar, and Oman remaining unclear. Earlier diplomatic steps included a June memorandum of understanding between the parties for further negotiations and talks hosted in Geneva in February.
The summary also references Europe’s historical role in diplomacy, including the 1814-15 Congress of Vienna.
Donald Trump stated in a Fox News interview that his representatives had spoken with Iranian officials an hour earlier and that those officials wanted to make a deal to end the conflict, though he noted they had broken prior agreements and expressed uncertainty about whether one would be reached.
He added that people do not want to die and that Iran would need to proceed carefully to avoid further losses. The remarks come amid an ongoing US-Iran conflict that has involved casualties and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, with some social media users criticizing the repetition of similar statements.
Why the Iran-US ceasefire is falling apart Iran and the US have resumed fighting because they don’t see each other as ‘reliable negotiating partners’, says analyst Ali Vaez. Neither Iran nor the United States seems able to deliver a “knockout blow at an acceptable price” to the other side, and both know “they have no choice other than engaging in diplomacy”, but they’re not ready to make uncomfortable concessions, argues Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Project at International Crisis Group.
Vaez tells host Steve Clemons that Tehran and Washington are trying to “enforce their own interpretation” of the ceasefire agreement they signed last month. President Trump has become “frustrated” with diplomacy because he’s not seeing “the kind of quick results that he likes to see”, Vaez says.