Washington (TDI): US President Donald Trump has said a deal with Iran would be signed “today” in Pakistan, even as uncertainty continues over whether Tehran will participate in the next round of talks.
In remarks to Fox News and the New York Post, Trump said that a US delegation, including Vice President JD Vance, envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, was already on its way to Islamabad for negotiations.
“We’re supposed to have the talks… nobody’s playing games,” Trump said, adding that the delegation would arrive in Pakistan by Monday night local time. He also expressed optimism that an agreement could be finalised quickly.
However, Iran has signalled hesitation. Officials in Tehran have said no final decision has been made on attending the talks, casting doubt on Trump’s timeline and raising questions about whether negotiations will proceed as planned.
Despite the mixed signals, US officials cited by international media said a second round of talks is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday in Islamabad, with Vance expected to lead the American side.
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Trump also indicated he would be open to meeting Iranian leaders directly if needed, while reiterating Washington’s key demand that Iran abandon its nuclear weapons programme.
“I have no problem meeting them,” he said, but warned that failure to reach an agreement could have serious consequences, without elaborating further.
At the same time, the US president maintained that the naval blockade on Iranian ports would remain in place, a position that has been strongly criticized by Tehran and seen as a major obstacle to progress in negotiations.
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The latest developments come amid intensified diplomatic efforts to secure a deal before the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran expires, with Pakistan playing a central role as a mediator and host for the talks.
With conflicting statements from both sides, the situation remains fluid, and it is unclear whether a breakthrough agreement is imminent or further delays lie ahead.
