New Delhi: The next round of peace talks between the United States and Iran might take place in Pakistan on Monday with delegations from both Washington and Tehran are expected to arrive in Islamabad during the weekend, CNN reported citing Iranian sources.
While there has been no official confirmation from either the US or Iran, president Donald Trump on Friday expressed confidence that both sides were close to a deal.
Second round of talks in Islamabad
This will be a second round of talks between the countries amid a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East after weeks of fighting that crippled the global energy flow.
Last week, a US delegation led by vice-president J D Vance and Iranian delegation led by foreign minister Abbas Araqchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf met in Pakistani capital Islamabad for over 21 hours. While a deal was not made with Vance informing the media that Strait of Hormuz and Iranian refusal to give up on its nuclear program were the sticking points, both sides left the door open for further talks.
Sticking points remain
Even as Trump expressed confidence about a deal, a Iranian official, cited by CNN report, cast doubt on some of his claims about Tehran making concessions.
The major sticking point being — what happens to Iran’s enriched uranium. Trump has announced that Iran will hand over its nuclear material, a claim Tehran rejected flatly.
“Iran’s enriched uranium is not going to be transferred anywhere,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on state television.
Earlier in the day, Trump in a post on Truth Social wrote, “The USA will get all Nuclear ‘Dust,’ created by our great B2 Bombers.” He doubled down on his claim while speaking to Reuters, saying, “We’re going to go in with Iran start excavating with big machinery We’ll bring it back to the United States.”
Strait of Hormuz open, uncertainties remain
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz on Friday following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon but only a handful of ships passed through the key waterway.
Meanwhile, the US blockade of the Strait continues with Iran warning that it could close the waterway again if the blockade continues with Iranian parliament speaker saying the waterway will close again if the US action in the region continues.
Araqchi announced on social media that the Strait was open for all commercial vessels for the remainder of the US-brokered 10-day truce that was agreed on Thursday between Israel and Lebanon.