Pakistan has proposed hosting a new round of talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad in the coming days, while calling for a 45-day extension of ceasefire, according to media reports on Tuesday.
The high-stakes U.S.-Iran talks in the Pakistani capital concluded without a deal on Sunday, with the U.S. citing "extensive flexibility" and "good-faith negotiations" but no consensus, while Iran blamed "excessive demands" from the U.S. for blocking progress toward a common framework and agreement.
The current two-week ceasefire, which paused nearly 40 days of intense hostilities, is set to expire on April 22. Reports indicate that two Pakistani officials, who remain anonymous, revealed that Pakistan has offered to facilitate a second round of peace talk before the end of current ceasefire.
The officials stated that whether the proposal moves forward depends on whether either party requests a change of venue. One official emphasized that although the first round ended without an agreement, it remains part of an ongoing diplomatic process, not a one-off effort.
The sources also said the warring parties were asked to extend the truce by 45 days. With the current ceasefire set to expire in just over a week, Pakistan has been working to build a broader alliance to secure either an extension of the ceasefire or a return to technical-level engagement to pave way for a second round of political talks, they said.
Meanwhile, intermediaries have helped to exchange messages between the U.S. and Iran over the outstanding issues in hopes of securing an extension, according to the sources.
Pakistan pushes for new round of US-Iran talks, calls for ceasefire extension
Pakistan pushes for new round of US-Iran talks, calls for ceasefire extension
