US Negotiators May Be Outmatched by Iran’s Diplomatic Experience

U.S. And Iranian negotiators are preparing for a potential second round of talks in Pakistan as both sides escalate rhetoric ahead of a looming deadline for a ceasefire extension.

Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned on Tuesday that Tehran has prepared to reveal “new cards on the battlefield” and accused U.S. President Donald Trump of seeking to turn negotiations into “a table of surrender or to justify renewed warmongering.” Ghalibaf stated that Iran does not accept talks conducted under the shadow of threats, according to reports from CNBC.

In the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iranian parliamentary speaker

The remarks came as Trump renewed his threat to unleash overwhelming military force on Iran if no deal is reached, saying “lots of bombs [will] start going off.” His comments follow a period of heightened tension after the U.S. Navy intercepted and captured the Touska, a 294-meter Iranian-flagged container ship in the Gulf of Oman, which Tehran has labeled an act of piracy.

We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iranian parliamentary speaker

The diplomatic efforts are unfolding amid sharp military escalation, with negotiators from both countries expected to arrive in Islamabad for a second phase of peace talks aimed at extending a two-week ceasefire set to expire on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. The talks follow a period of heightened rhetoric, with Trump threatening to destroy Iranian infrastructure if a deal is not reached.

Lots of bombs [will] start going off.

Donald Trump, U.S. President

Analysts cited in the CNBC report suggest that U.S. Negotiators may be outmatched at the table by Iran’s experienced diplomatic delegation ahead of the potential high-stakes meeting. The report notes that Iran’s parliamentary speaker appeared to raise the stakes in the standoff by signaling fresh leverage without elaborating on the nature of the alleged “new cards.”

While some figures at the table had previously engaged in indirect talks before the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran—which began on February 28, 2026—another key Iranian negotiator, Ali Larijani, has been absent from recent proceedings. Larijani, the former secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and a longtime figure in nuclear negotiations, was engaged in indirect talks with Washington mediated by Oman just weeks before the war broke out.

The current diplomatic track predates the broader regional conflict, with some participants having facilitated indirect communication prior to escalation. However, the absence of figures like Larijani has been noted by observers familiar with Iran’s diplomatic apparatus.

As the ceasefire nears expiry, the status of further talks remains uncertain, with both sides trading accusations and threats. The U.S. Has maintained pressure through naval actions and public threats of bombardment, while Iran has framed its military preparations as defensive leverage in the negotiations.

Observers warn that the pattern of diplomacy operating alongside coercion may be entrenching a cycle of managed confrontation rather than resolving underlying tensions. Recent breakdowns in talks in Pakistan have been interpreted by some analysts as reflecting structural limits to what current diplomacy can achieve amid active military posturing.

With the Wednesday deadline approaching, the outcome of the Islamabad talks will determine whether the ceasefire holds or whether the region faces renewed escalation. Neither side has indicated a clear path to de-escalation, and both continue to frame their positions in terms of strength and resolve.