Talks are in doubt as leaders are threatening

The United States and Iran both warned they are ready for war as President Donald Trump draws closer to a ceasefire amid uncertainty over resuming talks with Pakistan.

With a 14-day ceasefire set to expire on Wednesday, he said, “There is no pressure on me whatsoever” to reach a deal with Iran, while also expressing confidence that further talks with Tehran would soon take place in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Iran’s chief negotiator and parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, accused the United States of wanting Iran to surrender and said that, on the contrary, Iran was preparing to “reveal new cards on the battlefield.”

On Monday, Axios, citing US sources, reported that US Vice President JD Vance will visit Pakistan on Tuesday to meet Iranian officials.

Exactly a week ago, the first round of talks was held in Islamabad between senior representatives of Washington and Tehran. However, the talks ended without any concrete results.

An American official told news agency AFP that the US will hold new talks between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday.

The talks are aimed at encouraging an agreement after the start of a fragile US-brokered ceasefire.

“We will continue to facilitate direct, good-faith discussions between the two governments,” a State Department official said on customary condition of anonymity.

The first direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in decades took place on 14 April.

DW began its coverage of the Middle East on Tuesday amid continuing uncertainty over whether the United States and Iran will resume talks in Pakistan.

Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said he would not accept talks with Tehran if it came under threat from Washington.

Writing on X, Qalibaf accused US President Donald Trump of trying to turn the negotiating table into a “surrender table”.

Stay tuned for more news and analysis.