US-Iran Peace Talks in Limbo as Ceasefire Deadline Nears

US and Iran signal new ceasefire talks in Islamabad as truce nears end

President Donald Trump expressed confidence that Iran will send a delegation to Pakistan for peace talks despite Tehran’s refusal to confirm attendance, as a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran approaches its expiration date on Wednesday.

Trump stated this morning that Iran had “no choice” but to participate in negotiations and added that the US was “going to end up with a great deal.” He also warned that he was ready to resume bombing if talks do not go well, ahead of the ceasefire deadline.

Vice President JD Vance is expected to travel to Islamabad today for the negotiations, according to a source cited by NBC News. The talks are scheduled to take place in Pakistan’s capital this week.

Iran’s top negotiator warned that Tehran will not negotiate “under the shadow of threat” and has prepared “new cards on the battlefield,” signaling readiness for potential escalation if diplomacy fails. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf echoed this stance, stating Iran is “prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield” after Trump threatened “problems like they’ve never seen before” if the ceasefire expires without a deal.

Al Jazeera reported that Ghalibaf accused the US of “imposing a siege and violating the ceasefire” in an overnight post on X, emphasizing that Iran does not accept negotiations under US-imposed terms. Despite this, he acknowledged that Iran has tried to keep the door ajar to diplomacy, leaving open the possibility of participation.

The temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran is set to expire before a resolution as tensions escalate. The war of words follows the US seizure of an Iranian-flagged vessel near the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, which angered Iranian authorities and contributed to rising global oil prices.

Iran’s forensics chief reported that nearly 3,400 people have been killed in Iran since US-Israeli strikes began on February 28, with additional casualties in Lebanon, Gulf states, Israel, and among US service members. The humanitarian toll underscores the stakes as diplomatic efforts hang in the balance.

As the ceasefire deadline nears, the US continues to push for talks while Iran remains unwilling to engage under perceived threats. The outcome of the negotiations in Islamabad could determine whether the conflict de-escalates or reignites with potentially broader regional consequences.