The US-Iran ceasefire is set to run out in a matter of days. And Tehran isn’t committing to talks with Washington.
This comes as US Vice-President JD Vance is set to depart for Islamabad today (April 21), even as his boss, US President Donald Trump, warns that “lots of bombs [will] start going off” if the deal is not made by the time the deadline expires.
The war began on February 28, with the US and Israel jointly conducting strikes that killed a number of top Iranian leaders, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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But what do we know? Why is Iran not committing to talks with the US?
Let’s take a closer look:
What the US is saying
Trump has already extended the ceasefire, which began on April 7 and was set to end tomorrow (April 22), by a day. However, according to The Indian Express, Trump is warning that “lots of bombs will start going off” if no deal is made by the time the ceasefire expires by Wednesday evening, Washington time.
Trump added that it is “highly unlikely” he would extend the deadline further. “If there’s no deal, I would certainly expect…” Trump, in an interview with Bloomberg, said he was “not going to be rushed into making a bad deal”.
“We’ve got all the time in the world,” Trump added. The US President previously threatened to bomb Iranian bridges and power plants if no peace deal is made.
Trump told PBS News, “I don’t know. I mean, they’re supposed to be there. We agreed to be there, although they say we didn’t. But no, it was set up. And we’ll see whether or not it’s there. If they’re not there, that’s fine too.”
US President Donald Trump Trump added that it is “highly unlikely” he would extend the deadline further. AP
Meanwhile, _Axios_ quoted sources as saying that Vance is likely to depart for Islamabad today for talks with Iran. The outlet reported that Vance was waiting for Iran to send word that the talks were on. Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are also likely to accompany Vance to Islamabad.
According to the BBC, Vance spent the night in Washington on Monday. Sources told CNN that a second round of talks between the US and Iranian delegations is currently slated for Wednesday. A source told the outlet that a US delegation led by Vance would head to Pakistan “soon”.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is still preparing for talks. The capital of Islamabad is dotted with security checkpoints and “Islamabad Talks” posters lining the streets. According to reports, Pakistan has deployed nearly 20,000 security personnel across Islamabad. However, uncertainty lingers, as per the BBC.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADWhat Iran is saying
Iranian state television said Tuesday that no Iranian delegation had yet departed for talks with the United States in Pakistan.
“So far, no delegation from Iran has departed for Islamabad, Pakistan; whether it is the main or subsidiary delegation; primary or secondary,” state TV said, dismissing reports suggesting otherwise.
Iran’s Speaker of Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has claimed that Trump is trying to pressure Iran into giving in. Ghalibaf, the country’s top negotiator, warned that Tehran is prepared to intensify its actions if negotiations are held “under the shadow of threats”.
“Trump, by imposing a siege and violating the ceasefire, seeks to turn this negotiating table, in his own imagination, into a table of surrender or to justify renewed warmongering,” Ghalibaf wrote on X. “We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield.”
Reuters reported that while Tehran is considering attending the proposed talks in Pakistan, no final decision has been taken. The outlet quoted a senior Iranian official as saying that Tehran is “positively reviewing” its participation in the talks.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADIran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has claimed that Trump is trying to pressure Iran into giving in. AFP
A slew of high-profile Iranian officials have also slammed Washington. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said “continued violations of the ceasefire” by the United States were a major stumbling block.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that “unconstructive and contradictory signals from American officials carry a bitter message. They seek Iran’s surrender.”
“Iranians do not submit to force,” Pezeshkian added.
Fars News Agency, which is linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), quoted Major General Abdullahi as saying that Iran has driven Israel and the US “to despair and exhaustion, forcing them to desperately request a ceasefire”.
Abdullahi said the “lying and delusional US President” was trying to “create false narratives of the situation on the ground”, particularly when it comes to the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s foreign affairs ministry had earlier said Tehran had “no plans” to attend talks.
“As of now, we have no plans for the next round of negotiations,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said. “We don’t believe in deadlines or ultimatums to secure Iran’s national interests.”
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADWhy Tehran is not committing to talks
Axios quoted a source as saying that the Revolutionary Guards were piling on pressure on the negotiators. The Revolutionary Guards want no talks to take place before the US ends its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Reuters reported that the blockade of Iranian ports by the US, which Tehran considers a violation of the ceasefire, is another hurdle.
News18 quoted a Pakistani security source as saying that Field Marshal Asim Munir told Trump the blockade was a problem and that the US President had vowed to consider ending it.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Iranians do not submit to force. File image/Reuters
The BBC’s South Asia correspondent Azadeh Moshiri also noted events taking place in Iran. Moshiri said that hardliners are pressuring Ghalibaf and others to favour conflict. She said a power struggle is occurring behind the scenes and that much of what is being said publicly could be political bluster.
However, Moshiri cautioned that no one knows for sure if the peace talks will actually happen.
Some are laying the blame at Trump’s doorstep
“The Iranians didn’t appreciate POTUS negotiating through social media and making it appear as if they had signed off on issues they hadn’t yet agreed to, and ones that aren’t popular with their people back home,” a person familiar with the matter told CNN. They added that Iran was concerned about looking weak to the public back home.
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A senior Pakistani official told Reuters that efforts are ongoing to bring both sides to the table.
BBC Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet said that “there is one rule in diplomacy… you don’t want to be the one blamed for something breaking down”.
She said that if Vance travels to Islamabad, “it will be really hard for the Iranians not to show up”.
FAQs
1. Why is Iran hesitant to join talks with the US?
Iran is wary of negotiating under pressure, especially amid US threats and what it sees as violations of the ceasefire, including blockades. Internal political pressures and concerns about appearing weak are also involved.
2. What is the main sticking point in the negotiations?
A key issue is the US blockade of Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran considers a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
3. Are the US-Iran talks in Pakistan confirmed?
The talks are not confirmed. While preparations are underway in Islamabad, Iran has not committed to attending, and uncertainty remains over whether the negotiations will take place.
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With inputs from agencies
First Published:
April 21, 2026, 14:22 IST
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