Ceasefire Between Iran and U.S. Nears Deadline as Islamabad Braces for Potential Renewed Talks

Diplomatic activity is intensifying in Pakistan’s capital as the expiration of a two-week ceasefire between Iran, the United States, and Israel approaches. The truce is set to lapse at midnight GMT on Wednesday, raising concerns about the potential resumption of hostilities in the region.

The current pause in fighting began on April 8. Despite isolated attacks by Iran on targets in Gulf Arab countries and Israel after the ceasefire’s start, the agreement has largely held. However, recent incidents—including Iranian strikes on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and a U.S. boarding of an Iranian vessel over the weekend—highlight the fragile nature of the current calm.

Officials in Islamabad have prepared for the possibility of renewed talks between Tehran and Washington after an earlier round of negotiations hosted there from April 11 into April 12 ended without a breakthrough. According to the White House, U.S. Vice President JD Vance is expected to return to Pakistan for new discussions, accompanied by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. At present, neither country has dispatched a formal delegation for the talks, and arrangements remain tentative.

A central point of disagreement remains the status of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies must pass. Recent attacks and allegations of deployed sea mines have effectively closed the route, with Tehran reportedly demanding payments from vessels seeking passage. Global energy supplies have begun to feel the strain, as nations implement fuel rationing and warn of shortages.

Iran’s nuclear program is also in focus. All of Iran’s highly enriched uranium remains inside the country—apparently secured at facilities damaged in last June’s 12-day war with the U.S. While Iran asserts its enrichment is strictly peaceful, both Washington and Israel continue to demand the dismantling of the program, a demand Tehran rejected in its latest proposals for ending the conflict.

As the ceasefire’s expiration looms, the situation remains highly volatile. Talks in Islamabad could prove pivotal, but absent a diplomatic breakthrough, there is growing risk that the region could return to open conflict. The status of negotiations and the ceasefire remains fluid with no confirmed agreement to extend the current truce.