Trump: US-Iran Talks Possible as Soon as Friday

• No official timeline set for extending the ceasefire: source.
• Trump states the US will maintain the blockade despite the truce extension.
• Iran indicates talks will resume after US naval blockade is lifted.
  

A second round of discussions between the US and Iran might occur as early as Friday, according to the New York Post, citing President Donald Trump.

“It’s possible,” Trump reportedly told The Post via text message when asked about sources in Pakistan — which mediated the initial talks — suggesting that a second round could happen “within the next 36 to 72 hours” in Islamabad.

On Tuesday, Trump extended the two-week ceasefire just as it was about to expire. A Pakistani digital news outlet reported a three-day window for further talks without providing additional details or sources.

However, Reuters, citing a source, mentioned that no specific timeline has been announced for a long-term extension.

An US official said Trump might agree to extend the ceasefire with Iran by an additional three to five days, emphasizing that the ceasefire wouldn’t be indefinite.

Uncertainty remains as Washington and Tehran diverge on key issues, especially the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran shut down the strait for all traffic after U.S. and Israeli strikes across Iran on February 28. Alongside closing Hormuz, Iran also launched attacks on Israeli and U.S. positions across the Middle East.

The conflict halted on April 8 when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a two-week ceasefire and invited both parties to Islamabad for negotiations, which ended without a resolution for a permanent peace.

Nevertheless, Islamabad continues efforts to bring both sides back to negotiations and secure an extension of the ceasefire.

Ceasefire Extended

On Tuesday night, President Donald Trump announced he was extending the Iran ceasefire until Iran submitted a formal proposal and discussions wrapped up.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump said he was acting at Pakistan’s request to delay military actions until Iran could present a “unified proposal.”

Despite this, Trump clarified that the U.S. Navy would keep enforcing its maritime blockade on Iran, which Tehran regards as an act of war.

Washington has listed its participants for the upcoming round of talks, but Iran states they will only return if the U.S. lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports.

“Once the blockade is lifted, the next negotiations will take place in Islamabad,” Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir-Saeid Iravani, told Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, Islamabad reports maintaining regular contact with Iranian leaders and continues diplomatic efforts through dialogue.

“We are still awaiting a formal response from Iran confirming their delegation for the Islamabad peace talks,” wrote Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on X (formerly Twitter) Tuesday.