US-Iran talks in Pakistan: key dates before Apr 22 truce

Why Pakistan is back at the centre of diplomacy

US President Donald Trump has said American representatives will travel to Islamabad on Monday for negotiations with Iran, as a two-week halt to the US-Iran war nears its end. The ceasefire is set to expire on Wednesday, April 22, with no indication so far of an extension. The push for talks comes alongside sharper rhetoric from Washington and renewed uncertainty around shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan, which hosted earlier discussions that ended without a deal, is again preparing to facilitate the next round.

Trump’s Truth Social post and the threat of strikes

Trump’s latest comments were delivered through a Truth Social post that combined an offer of talks with a direct warning to Tehran. He said the United States was offering “a very fair and reasonable DEAL,” but threatened to “knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran” if Iran does not accept Washington’s terms. In the same post, he said, “My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan - They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations.” Trump added “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!” while urging Iran to accept the proposed deal. There was no immediate comment from Iran in response to those remarks.

US claims of ceasefire violation in the Strait of Hormuz

Trump also accused Iran of violating the ceasefire in the Strait of Hormuz. He claimed Iran “decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz,” calling it “A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement!” He further alleged that many shots were aimed at a French ship and a freighter from the United Kingdom. Separately, he criticised Iran’s announcement that it was closing the strait, adding that the US blockade had “already closed it.”

Iran’s position: diplomacy, but no concessions on access

Iran has signalled it is keeping diplomacy open while framing the standoff over maritime access as a response to US pressure. Iranian parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on state television that Tehran was engaged in diplomacy and also ready for military confrontation. “It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot,” he said, referring to restrictions tied to the US blockade. He also described the US blockade as a “naive decision made out of ignorance,” while saying Iran was still seeking peace despite distrust.

Strait of Hormuz: the choke point raising global stakes

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most sensitive pressure points in the conflict and in the talks. The route normally carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil trade, according to the information cited in the reports. Iran reversed its decision to reopen shipping and again shut the energy choke point on Saturday, adding uncertainty around the ceasefire period. After a brief uptick in transit attempts, vessels in the Persian Gulf were reported holding position amid heightened risk.

Pakistan’s preparations and security build-up in Islamabad

Pakistan has re-launched diplomatic efforts to facilitate another round of talks in Islamabad aimed at a final agreement to end the war between Washington and Tehran. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye as part of this push, while Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir spent three days in Iran to build consensus on contentious issues. Security measures have also been expanded. The Express Tribune reported that more than 10,000 police personnel were deployed and over 600 checkpoints were established across Rawalpindi, adjacent to Islamabad. Separately, sources cited in broadcast reporting said two US aircraft carrying security personnel landed in Rawalpindi near the capital.

What happened in the first Islamabad round

The first round of US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad ended without a deal. One report described 21 hours of talks concluding without a breakthrough, setting up a likely second round within days. Another update from the Associated Press said Iran was not yet ready to hold a new round of face-to-face talks, citing Washington’s refusal to abandon “maximalist demands” on key issues. Even as preparations continued, reporting also noted that no firm date had been set in stone for negotiations beyond the Monday travel timeline described by Trump.

The unresolved agenda: nuclear programme, sanctions, and Hormuz

Multiple reports point to a broad and difficult agenda if talks resume. The United States is described as pushing for a comprehensive agreement covering Iran’s nuclear programme, while Iran is demanding sanctions relief and security guarantees. Disagreements over uranium enrichment and nuclear facilities remain unresolved, alongside the Strait of Hormuz stand-off. Hormuz is also described as one of several unsettled issues in the peace talks, with regional tensions continuing in parallel, including Israel’s ongoing invasion of Lebanon in one report.

Market impact: why Indian investors track Hormuz closely

While the talks are focused on ending the war, the immediate economic risk channel highlighted in the updates is energy supply disruption. With roughly one-fifth of global oil trade normally passing through Hormuz, any restriction can quickly amplify concerns around energy availability and costs. For Indian markets, that matters because oil-linked volatility can feed into inflation expectations, currency moves, and the outlook for sectors sensitive to fuel and freight. The current standoff is also framed as a “dueling blockades” scenario, complicating mediation attempts and keeping risk elevated as the ceasefire expiry approaches.

Key facts and timeline so far

What to watch next

The next signal will be whether Iran agrees to sit down for direct talks in Islamabad and whether any date is confirmed beyond the Monday arrival timeline cited by Trump. Another focus is whether the ceasefire is extended past April 22, given the ongoing exchange of threats and competing claims about maritime incidents. Developments in the Strait of Hormuz, including whether ships are allowed to transit and under what conditions, will remain central to both diplomacy and market risk. Pakistani mediation efforts, including official engagements with Tehran and security arrangements around Islamabad and Rawalpindi, are likely to shape how quickly talks can be convened.