ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the Iran war talks can resume “over the next two days” in Pakistan, the New York Post reported.
Direct talks between both sides were held on Saturday, days after a ceasefire announcement. The talks were held between US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, marking the most senior engagement between the two countries since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The first round of talks in Islamabad stretched for more than 20 hours but ended without a breakthrough as divisions persisted on core issues.
The NY Post reported that shortly after speaking with its reporter about the outlook for future talks between the US and Iran on Tuesday, Trump called back with an update.
“You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there,” The New York Post quoted Trump as saying.
“It’s more likely, you know why? Because the field marshal is doing a great job.”
The US president was referring to Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. Trump and Munir enjoy cordial relations, especially since last year after Pakistan fought a brief war with India, which ended after just four days due to a peace deal that the US helped to broker.
“He’s fantastic, and therefore it’s more likely that we go back there,” Trump was quoted as saying.
“Why should we go to some country that has nothing to do with it?“
’NOTHING OFFICIAL’
Earlier, Pakistani officials said on Tuesday that there are no preparations underway yet for fresh US-Iran talks in Islamabad this week. Iranian diplomats said messages had been exchanged between the two sides through Pakistan since the first round of negotiations.
On Tuesday, Reuters reported, citing multiple sources, that no firm date had been set for a possible second round but delegations were keeping Friday through Sunday open and that Pakistan was in contact with both sides about the timing of future talks.
The Pakistani foreign office and information ministries did not respond to queries on whether a fresh round of talks was planned this week but an official at the Iranian embassy in Islamabad who declined to be named told Arab News:
“The coming rounds of talks can come anytime and anywhere but nothing is official as of now.”
Another source at the embassy said since the breakdown of the last talks, messages had been exchanged between Tehran and Washington through Islamabad.
The Iranian embassy’s press section responded to written questions by Arab News regarding fresh talks this week: “We have not received anything official as of now.”
Pakistani officials also indicated there were currently no signs of the extensive logistical and security planning that had preceded last weekend’s meeting.
“Do you see any preparation [for another meeting]? At the moment it’s social media frenzy, everyone is speculating,” a Pakistani official familiar with security arrangements for the last round of talks told Arab News.
A second Pakistani official from the foreign ministry said there had been no confirmation of dates or venue for any follow-up talks.
“If these were finalized, there would be some sort of communication in regards to preparations,” the official said.
