US and Iran to Hold Second Round of War-Ending Talks in Pakistan ‘Within Days’...Outlook ‘Positive’

[Financial News] The United States and Iran are voicing optimism ahead of a second round of talks to end the war, raising the likelihood of an agreement. The timing and venue have not yet been officially set, but the second round is expected to be held in Pakistan before the current two‐week truce expires on the 21st, likely following the same format as the first round.
According to Sky News on the 15th, US President Donald Trump referred to a possible war‐ending agreement with Iran in an interview the previous day. Asked whether he could reach a deal with Iran before King Charles III pays a state visit to the United States, Trump replied, “It’s possible. Very possible. They (Iran) have been hit pretty hard.” King Charles III is scheduled to visit the United States from the 27th to the 30th. In a separate interview with Fox News on the 14th, Trump also said of the war with Iran, “In my view, it seems to be almost over. I think it is very close to being finished.”
On the 15th, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also told reporters, “We view the prospects for an agreement positively.” She stressed, “For Iran, it is clearly in its best interest to accept the demands of the US president.”
The United States has been attacking Iran since February and announced a two‐week truce on the 7th of this month. The truce is set to end on the 21st. The two sides held talks aimed at ending the war in Islamabad, Pakistan, on the 11th and 12th but failed to produce a breakthrough. Leavitt said, “There were a few incorrect reports this morning that we had formally requested an extension of the truce, but that is not true at this time,” adding, “We remain very committed to negotiations and talks.”
On the same day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said at a briefing, “Since the Iranian delegation returned from Islamabad on the 12th, several messages have continued to be exchanged with the United States through Pakistan.” He explained that no date has yet been set for a second meeting with Washington and that no decision has been made on extending the truce.
Foreign media reported that Iran has proposed a compromise to the United States over control of the Strait of Hormuz, citing officials. The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20–25% of the world’s seaborne oil trade passes, is about 34 kilometers wide and lies between Iran and Oman. According to the officials, Iran has indicated that if an agreement is reached to prevent future clashes, it will not attack vessels traveling through Omani territorial waters in the strait.



At a briefing on the 15th, White House spokesperson Leavitt said there was “a very high likelihood” that the second round of talks with Iran would be held “in the same place as last time (Islamabad).” On the same day, Asim Munir, known as a key mediator in the war‐ending talks, arrived in Tehran and met with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. According to The Associated Press (AP), the Pakistani delegation led by Munir held preliminary discussions with the Iranian side on the peace talks that day and agreed to continue meetings on the 16th. An unnamed official told Tasnim News Agency on the 15th, “After meeting with the Pakistani delegation, the Iranian side will conduct the necessary review and then decide whether to proceed with the next round of talks with the United States.” US political outlet Axios reported the same day that Washington and Tehran have exchanged draft texts of a war‐ending agreement and are moving closer to a “basic deal.”
For now, both sides are engaging in psychological warfare ahead of the talks. On the 15th, Trump posted on social media a recording of a warning broadcast by United States Central Command (CENTCOM) as it blockaded Iranian ports, in an apparent attempt to pressure Tehran. The Washington Post reported the same day that the US Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN‐77), which left the United States on the 31st of last month, is expected to arrive in the Middle East on the 21st. Once the Bush joins the theater, the number of US aircraft carriers deployed in the region will rise to three. On that day, Iran’s joint military command, the Khatam ol‐Anbiya Central Headquarters, issued a statement warning that it would respond if the United States continued to blockade the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian ports, declaring, “Iran’s powerful armed forces will not tolerate any import or export activity passing through the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea.” It was the first time since the war began that Iran had officially mentioned controlling the Red Sea.
Trump also wrote on social media on the 15th, “It has been 34 years since the leaders of Israel and Lebanon last held talks, which is a very long time,” adding, “There will be a meeting tomorrow, and that is a wonderful thing.” He explained that the purpose of the talks is “to create a bit of breathing room between Israel and Lebanon.” Israel, which has been carrying out airstrikes on Iran alongside the United States, has been attacking Hezbollah, the pro‐Iranian armed faction in Lebanon, since last month. Iran has argued that halting the fighting in Lebanon is one of the conditions for the current truce. Foreign media have reported that Israel may agree, under US pressure, to a roughly one‐week ceasefire in Lebanon. An official who spoke to Tasnim News Agency added, “A ceasefire in Lebanon would be a positive signal for Iran’s decision on the negotiations.”



pjw@fnnews.com Park Jong-won Reporter