Berk Kutay Gokmen
21 April 2026•Update: 21 April 2026
US Vice President Vance is expected to depart for the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, for talks with Iran over a potential agreement to end the war, Axios reported on Tuesday, as the two-week ceasefire is set to expire on Wednesday.
The report suggested that US President Donald Trump may also agree to extend the deadline if there are signs of “progress,” as a full-scale deal before the expiration of the ceasefire would be difficult.
The US and Israel initiated joint military attacks on Tehran on Feb. 28, triggering retaliation by Iran across the Middle East. Pakistan secured a 14-day ceasefire on April 8.
Earlier, Trump said it was "highly unlikely" that the truce would be extended if an agreement with Iran was not reached.
The report claimed that the Iranians were stalling due to apparent pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on negotiators to take a firmer stance: "no talks without an end to the US blockade."
While the White House said Vice President JD Vance will lead the US delegation, Tehran has yet to announce if it will send its team and has demanded an end to the US blockade of Iranian ports.
Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are also expected to travel to Islamabad for the talks.
A Pakistani official told Anadolu that all arrangements for the talks have been completed, and authorities are now simply waiting for the arrival of delegations, which are “expected today.”