Iran’s participation awaited as ceasefire deadline nears: Attah Tarar

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has said Iran’s formal confirmation regarding sending a delegation to attend the Islamabad peace talks is still awaited.

In a post on X, Tarar said Pakistan is fully prepared to host the second phase of US-Iran negotiations, but a final decision from Tehran has yet to be received. He added that Pakistan, acting as mediator, remains in constant contact with Iranian officials and continues to pursue a diplomatic path focused on dialogue and engagement.

In parallel efforts, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged both the United States and Iran to extend the ceasefire and give diplomacy a chance during a meeting with US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker in Islamabad, according to the Foreign Office. Dar reiterated Pakistan’s stance that dialogue remains the only viable path to lasting regional peace and stability.

The current ceasefire is set to expire at 4.50 AM PST on Wednesday, making Iran’s decision on participation increasingly critical. Pakistan has made sustained efforts to persuade Iranian leadership to join the talks, while the United States has appreciated Islamabad’s “constructive and positive role” in facilitating dialogue.

The situation as it stands at 1930 PST

1. Formal response from Iranian side about confirmation of delegation to attend Islamabad Peace Talks is still awaited.

2. ⁠Pakistan as the mediator is in constant touch with Iranians and pursuing the path of diplomacy and dialogue.

3.…

— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) April 21, 2026

Meanwhile, Iran said Tuesday it has yet to decide whether to attend last-ditch talks with the United States, following a US move to board an Iranian oil tanker at sea just a day before the ceasefire deadline.

US President Donald Trump said he hopes to secure a “great deal” but ruled out extending the truce, warning the military is “raring to go” if negotiations fail. Vice President JD Vance, expected to lead the US delegation, has yet to depart for Islamabad and is attending meetings in Washington.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran is still weighing its decision, condemning the tanker boarding and a separate cargo seizure as “piracy at sea and state terrorism.”

Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani warned that Tehran would respond more forcefully to any renewed attacks.

The US military said it boarded the sanctioned tanker, identified as the Tifani, “without incident,” carrying around 2 million barrels of crude. However, tensions remain high as Iran has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil supplies and pushing prices higher.

Previous rounds of talks failed to produce a breakthrough amid disputes over sanctions and maritime restrictions. Still, diplomatic sources say momentum remains, with Pakistan ramping up security in Islamabad by deploying nearly 20,000 personnel ahead of the expected talks.

At the core of the dispute is Iran’s nuclear programme. Washington is demanding Tehran abandon its highly enriched uranium stockpile, while Iran insists its programme is for peaceful purposes and seeks sanctions relief.

The ongoing conflict has caused heavy casualties and shaken global markets, with fears mounting that failure in diplomacy could further destabilise energy supplies and push the global economy toward recession.