ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump has said that a fresh round of peace talks between Washington and Tehran may take place as soon as Friday, the New York Post reported on Wednesday, as Islamabad gears up to host the negotiations.
The New York Post reported that its sources in Islamabad said more peace talks between the US and Iran can take place in the Pakistani capital within the next “36 to 72 hours.”
Talks between the two sides were in limbo after the White House told Arab News that a planned US delegation’s visit to Pakistan for the peace negotiations would not take place on Wednesday. Iran, on the other hand, has not yet confirmed whether it will take part in the Islamabad talks or not.
“Asked about this possible breakthrough by The Post, Trump, in a text message, said: ‘It’s possible! President DJT,’” the New York Post reported.
The development takes place after Trump announced on his Truth Social website that he will extend Washington’s ongoing ceasefire with Iran. However, he added that the US navy’s blockade of Iran’s trade by sea would continue. The US had fired on and seized an Iranian cargo vessel on Saturday and boarded a huge Iranian oil tanker on Tuesday in the Indian Ocean. Trump also said Tehran must present a “unified proposal” before talks proceed.
Iran considers the US naval blockade an act of war and has said it will not lift its closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused a global energy crisis, as long as the US blockade continues.
A first round of talks between both sides was held on Apr. 11 in Islamabad. After over 20 hours of intense discussions, neither side was able to reach a breakthrough.
Disagreements between the two remain over Iran’s nuclear program, Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz route, sanctions against Tehran and regional security issues. The US blockade of Iranian ports has escalated tensions between the two sides.
Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities have geared up for the fresh round of peace talks with stringent security measures in place in Islamabad since Saturday.
