Pakistan: Pakistan continues preparations for a potential second round of talks between the US and Iran, as the two-week ceasefire is set to expire on Wednesday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday to review security and administrative arrangements for the expected talks.
According to Anadolu Agency, while the White House has announced that Vice President JD Vance will lead the US delegation, Tehran has yet to declare its participation and has demanded an end to the US blockade of Iranian ports. Officials in Islamabad confirmed that full preparations are in place for the second round, with security measures remaining stringent across the heavily fortified Red Zone, which houses government offices and foreign missions.
Pakistani officials expressed cautious optimism, stating, "Hope is still alive as security and administrative arrangements are being made, but we cannot say when the talks will take place -- today, tomorrow, or the next day." The Islamabad administration has sealed the Red Zone and ordered all schools and offices to shift to remote work as authorities remain on high alert, preparing for the arrival of foreign delegations.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi briefed Prime Minister Sharif about his recent meetings with the US and Iranian ambassadors in Islamabad, detailing the security arrangements made for the expected delegations. Meanwhile, Iran's ambassador to Islamabad, Reza Amiri Moghadam, reinforced Tehran's position on social media, stating that Iran would not negotiate under threat and force, emphasizing a substantial, Islamic, and theological principle.
A second Pakistani official indicated that all arrangements have been completed, with authorities now simply awaiting the arrival of delegations, which are expected today. The backdrop to these events includes the initiation of joint US-Israel military attacks on Tehran on February 28, which led to Iranian retaliation across the Middle East. Pakistan successfully brokered a 14-day ceasefire on April 8, but US President Donald Trump has stated it is "highly unlikely" the truce will be extended if a deal with Iran is not reached.
