Last-minute US-Iran ceasefire talks appeared uncertain as a two-week truce neared expiry. US Vice President JD Vance remained in Washington, while Pakistan said it was awaiting Iranian confirmation to return to Islamabad. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Tehran had not made a final decision, citing unacceptable US actions.

International

-Sathish Raman

Efforts to organise last-minute ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran appeared fragile on Tuesday. A two-week truce, which began April 8, was due to end on Wednesday. Both sides warned they were ready to restart hostilities without an agreement. Uncertainty grew as Pakistan said it still lacked confirmation that Iran would attend talks in Islamabad.

Two regional officials earlier said Washington and Tehran had signalled a second negotiating round. The officials said US Vice President JD Vance would lead the American team. The officials added Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf would be the top negotiator. Both spoke anonymously because they were not authorised to brief reporters.

US-Iran ceasefire talks face uncertainty as Pakistan awaits Iran confirmation

A White House official said JD Vance stayed in Washington on Tuesday. The official said Vance had policy meetings at the White House on Wednesday morning. The official spoke on condition of anonymity. The vice presidents office and the White House did not immediately answer messages about possible travel to Pakistan.

Pakistan’s information minister, Attaullah Tarar, posted on X that Iran had not formally confirmed participation. The post said the confirmation deadline was set to expire Wednesday. Iranian state television also carried a message saying that no delegation from Iran has visited Islamabad … so far. Pakistani officials still said they expected talks to proceed.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told Iran’s state TV there was no final decision. Baghaei cited unacceptable actions by the US. The comments appeared to refer to the recent blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Over the weekend, Iran said it received new proposals from Washington. Iran also suggested the gap between the sides remained wide.

US-Iran ceasefire talks hinge on Strait of Hormuz as oil prices rise

The US imposed the blockade to pressure Tehran over control of the Strait of Hormuz. The route carries about 20 per cent of global natural gas and crude oil during peacetime. Iran’s grip has driven prices higher. Brent crude traded near USD 95 per barrel Tuesday. That was over 30 per cent above Feb 28, when Israel and the US attacked Iran.

European Union transportation ministers met Tuesday in Brussels to discuss consumer protection. The meeting followed a warning by the head of the International Energy Agency. The warning said Europe has "maybe six weeks\" of jet fuel supplies remaining. Before the war, the strait was fully open. Donald Trump has demanded ships transit again without interference.

Past disputes also clouded the talks. Issues that stalled the previous round included Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. They also included regional proxies and the strait. Qalibaf accused the United States of seeking capitulation. \"We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats,\" Qalibaf wrote in an X post.

US-Iran ceasefire talks strained as Trump rejects extending truce

Donald Trump and Iranian officials kept up sharp public warnings. Trump said \"lots of bombs will start going off\" without an agreement before the deadline. Iran’s chief negotiator said Tehran had new cards on the battlefield that havent yet been revealed. Trump told CNBC: \"Well, I dont want to do that.\" Trump added, \"We dont have that much time.\"

On Tuesday, the US said its forces boarded a sanctioned oil tanker. The Pentagon said US forces boarded the M/T Tifani without incident. The military did not name the location. Ship-tracking data placed the Tifani in the Indian Ocean, between Sri Lanka and Indonesia. The Pentagon added that international waters are not a refuge for sanctioned vessels.

The US military on Sunday seized an Iranian container ship. It was the first interception under the blockade of Iranian ports. Iran’s joint military command called the armed boarding an act of piracy. The command also described it as a violation of the ceasefire. The new seizure added tension as the truce deadline approached.

US-Iran ceasefire talks in focus as Pakistan tightens Islamabad security

Pakistan described the talks as the highest-level US-Iran engagement since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The first round on April 11 and 12 ended without an agreement. Pakistan said Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met the acting US ambassador on Tuesday. Dar urged an extension of the ceasefire. Dar also met China’s ambassador, as China trades heavily with Iran.

Security was tightened across Islamabad ahead of any meetings. Authorities deployed thousands of personnel in the capital. Patrols were increased along roads leading to the airport. The measures came as officials awaited word on Iran’s attendance. Pakistan continued to press both sides to return to Islamabad for negotiations.

Separately, Israel’s military said it jailed two soldiers for defacing a Jesus statue in Lebanon. The soldiers got 30 days in jail and were removed from combat duty. The military said it replaced the statue. Meanwhile, officials said Israel-Lebanon talks were set for Thursday in Washington. A 10-day ceasefire began Friday in Lebanon.

Fighting across the region has continued to cause heavy casualties. In Lebanon, clashes have killed more than 2,290 people. Iranian authorities said at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran. Israel reported 23 deaths, with more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers and 13 US service members have also been killed.

With inputs from PTI