The United States sent Iran a list of broad points last week to set the stage for the next round of peace talks, but several days passed with no reply from Tehran, according to a senior US official.
According to the chief White House correspondent and anchor for CNN, Kaitlan Collins’ report on Tuesday, April 21, the nonresponse by Iran has slowed efforts to restart negotiations in Pakistan.
US officials pushed Pakistan’s top mediator to press Iran for at least some response before Vice President JD Vance boarded a flight to Islamabad. Hours later, there was still nothing.
The setback comes as a fragile ceasefire between the two countries nears its end. The truce, which started on April 8 after weeks of fighting, was meant to give diplomacy a chance.
Pakistan has been a major participant in the talks, hosting the first round earlier this month and acting as the main go-between.
Also Read: Vance Scraps Pakistan Trip as Iran Signals No-Show Ahead of Ceasefire Deadline
That first meeting in Islamabad lasted more than 20 hours but ended without a deal. US officials, including Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, sat down with Iranian representatives, exchanged demands from their respective nations, but there was one final solution for them.
Differences remained on key issues, including the US naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has repeatedly said it will not return to the table while the blockade remains in place.
Tehran views the restrictions as an act of economic pressure that must end before serious talks can move forward. The US has kept the blockade in place, saying it is necessary to maintain leverage.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire at the request of Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir. Trump said the move would give Iran more time to prepare a unified proposal.
“The Pakistanis asked us to hold off,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He added that the extension was granted because Iran’s government appears internally divided.
Also Read: Trump Reveals Millions Iran is Losing Daily as Strait of Hormuz Standoff Deepens
The extension eases immediate fears of renewed fighting but does little to resolve the deeper standoff.
No new date has been set for talks in Pakistan. White House officials say Vance’s planned trip has been put on hold for now.
Pakistani officials continue to urge both sides to keep the process alive. Islamabad sees itself as a dependable mediator because it maintains ties with Washington and Tehran.
Pakistani diplomats have shuttled messages between the two capitals in recent days.
One US official told reporters that the lack of any reply to the list of points raised doubts about what could be gained from an in-person meeting.
The broad points were meant to narrow differences in advance and avoid another long session with no result.
What is Iran’s plan?
Iran has not publicly commented on the specific US list. Iranian state media has said contacts continue through Pakistan but stressed that Tehran will not negotiate under duress.
Some Iranian officials have called the current situation a “waste of time” while the blockade remains in place.
The war that led to the ceasefire lasted almost seven weeks and caused massive damage on both sides.
It disturbed global oil markets and raised fears of a wider regional conflict. Several people were killed or died, including 13 U.S. service members.
During the active phase of the conflict, energy prices shot up and remain highly sensitive to news from the talks.
Analysts say a lasting deal would need to address Iran’s nuclear program, regional proxies, and the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane that carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil.
The focus now stays on Pakistan’s efforts to bring the sides back together. Pakistani sources say they are still working to arrange a second round in Islamabad when both parties are ready, probably on Thursday this week.
The Trump administration has also issued new sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities in recent days.
Officials describe the measures as routine pressure, and not a signal that talks are off.
