★ Iran-U.S. Conflict · Running Coverage
Iran & the United States: conflict, negotiation, regional spillover
Now Trump says US-Iran talks could resume in Islamabad within days as naval blockade of Iranian ports continues
Donald Trump said on April 14 that US-Iranian peace talks could resume in Islamabad within the next two days, even as a US naval blockade of Iranian ports entered its second day and Iran-linked vessels continued to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials countered on April 15 that Tehran would first conduct a necessary assessment after meeting a Pakistani mediation delegation led by army chief Asim Munir before committing to further negotiations, while conditioning their participation on a ceasefire in Lebanon and US adherence to pre-existing commitments.
Key details
- Donald Trump said on April 14 that US-Iran peace talks could resume in Islamabad within the next two days under Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, and that subsequent discussions would take place in Europe.
- Iran-linked sanctioned vessels continued to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on April 14, the day after the US naval blockade of Iranian ports began.
- An Iranian informed source said on April 15 that Tehran would assess Pakistani mediation led by army chief Asim Munir before deciding whether to hold the next round of talks, and linked Iranian participation to a ceasefire in Lebanon.
- Iranian state media reported on April 15 that delegations may restart negotiations in Islamabad later in the week, but noted that the previous round failed to reach an agreement due to multiple outstanding differences.
Perspectives
Trump administration
Negotiations could resume in Islamabad within two days and will later shift to Europe, signaling openness to a diplomatic off-ramp despite the naval blockade.
Different framing
Story arc
- 2025-06-13 12-day Iran-Israel war begins — Israel launches surprise strikes on Iran's nuclear and military sites, igniting a 12-day war that degrades Iranian air defenses and missile stockpiles.
- 2025-08-01 First U.S. strikes on Iran under Trump — U.S. military strikes Iranian targets — the first direct U.S. military action against Iran of Trump's second term.
- 2026-02-03 Iran conditionally agrees to nuclear talks — Iran conditionally agrees to resume nuclear talks with the United States, the first such engagement since Trump's military strikes the previous summer.
- 2026-02-17 U.S. and Iran hold Geneva talks — U.S. and Iranian delegations meet in Geneva and report good progress in the first direct negotiations since the conditional agreement earlier in the month.
- 2026-02-19 Trump discussed timeline for strikes — President Trump is reported to have discussed a timeline for potential military strikes on Iran, including the possibility of action as soon as that weekend, though no final decision was made.
- 2026-02-28 2026 Iran war begins (Operation Epic Fury) — U.S. and Israel launch surprise airstrikes on Iran. CENTCOM begins Operation Epic Fury at 06:35 UTC. An Israeli strike on Khamenei's compound assassinates the Supreme Leader.
- 2026-03-01 Khamenei's death announced — Iranian state media confirms Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the Israeli strike the previous day, plunging Iran's leadership into a succession crisis.
- 2026-03-02 Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz — An IRGC senior official officially confirms the Strait of Hormuz is closed and threatens any ship that attempts to pass.
- 2026-03-04 U.S. submarine torpedoes Iranian warship — A U.S. submarine torpedoes an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean; 238 Iranian sailors are later repatriated via Sri Lanka.
- 2026-03-19 U.S. aerial campaign to reopen Hormuz — The United States launches an aerial campaign against Iranian targets to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after Iran's closure.
- 2026-04-08 Two-week ceasefire agreed — The U.S. and Iran agree to a temporary two-week ceasefire that includes provisions to re-open the Strait of Hormuz.
- 2026-04-11 Islamabad negotiations open — U.S. and Iran begin negotiations in Islamabad during the ceasefire window; talks conclude April 12 without an agreement.
- 2026-04-13 U.S. naval blockade of Iran begins — After the deadline expires, the U.S. military begins a naval blockade of Iranian ports at 10:00 ET; over 10,000 personnel and a dozen warships enforce it in the first 24 hours.
- 2026-04-14 Trump says Islamabad talks could resume within days — Donald Trump says US-Iran peace talks could restart in Islamabad over the next two days under Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, even as a US naval blockade of Iranian ports is underway.
- 2026-04-15 Iran to assess next round of talks after Pakistani mediation — Iranian officials say Tehran will evaluate whether to hold the next round of US talks after meeting a Pakistani delegation led by army chief Asim Munir in Tehran, while insisting Washington adhere to reasonable demands and pre-ceasefire commitments.
Next to watch
2026-04-16 — End of the two-day window in which Trump said US-Iran talks could restart in Islamabad under Pakistani mediation.
Show 3 sources covering this story
US-Iran peace talks could resume in next two days, Trump says
Trump says new US-Iran talks could happen ‘over next two days’
Secondary effects — analysis
Shipping and trade
The US naval blockade of Iranian ports that began on April 13 has not halted all maritime traffic; Iran-linked sanctioned vessels were observed passing through the Strait of Hormuz on April 14, suggesting enforcement gaps or selective targeting that keep commercial routes technically open while elevating insurance and routing costs for Iranian trade.
Key movements
No confirmed total closure of Hormuz as of April 14; Iran-linked vessels continue transiting the strait after the US blockade commenced on April 13.
Evidence The Guardian reported on April 14 that sanctioned ships and Iran-linked vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz after the start of Trump's blockade.
Diplomatic mediation
Pakistan has emerged as the primary diplomatic channel between Washington and Tehran, with army chief Asim Munir shuttling between capitals to arrange a resumption of talks in Islamabad, demonstrating Islamabad's effort to leverage its unique position to de-escalate a conflict that risks engulfing South Asia.
Key movements
Pakistan moved from hosting the first US-Iran talks on April 11 to Munir's follow-up shuttle diplomacy in Tehran on April 15, keeping the negotiation track alive after the April 13 naval blockade began.
Evidence Trump praised Munir on April 14 as a fantastic facilitator for potential Islamabad talks, and Pakistani military statements confirmed Munir led a delegation to Tehran on April 15 to continue mediation.
Oil markets
The standoff over Hormuz has kept a volatility premium in crude markets, but because Iran-linked vessels were still transiting the strait on April 14 despite the US blockade, traders have so far priced in no major supply disruption.
Key movements
Oil prices fluctuated with diplomatic signals in February 2026—gaining on February 17 amid talk progress, then easing on February 23 as Iran indicated flexibility—but no confirmed supply disruption materialized through mid-April.
Evidence Reuters reported on February 19 that crude oil's Iran premium assumed no supply disruption, while CNBC noted on February 17 that oil gained as traders weighed U.S.-Iran talk progress and on February 23 that prices eased when Iran signaled readiness to deal.
Regional conflict linkages
Iran has explicitly tied its willingness to continue nuclear talks to progress in Lebanon, stating that a ceasefire there would serve as a positive signal for Tehran to re-engage Washington, revealing how the US-Iran war and the Levant conflict are now diplomatically interlocked.
Key movements
Iran shifted from unconditional rejection to conditional engagement, linking the Islamabad negotiation track to parallel de-escalation in Lebanon.
Evidence An Iranian informed source told media on April 15 that a ceasefire in Lebanon would be a positive signal for Iran to participate in the next round of talks with the US.