Iran-US ceasefire extension in doubt, efforts on for second round of peace talks

The week-old ceasefire between Iran and the US is unlikely to be extended even as hectic efforts began for the second round of peace talks with Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir arriving in Tehran to meet Iranian leaders.

In Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is ready for the Iran war to resume.

‘We want to see Iran’s enriched material removed, and we want to see the elimination of its enrichment capability inside Iran. And of course, we want to see the reopening of the (Hormuz) Strait,’ Netanyahu said in a video statement.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said reports of an extension of the current US ceasefire with Iran are “not true at this moment.”

She said the Trump administration is optimistic that negotiations could yield a deal to end the war. “We feel good about the prospects of a deal,” she said.

She, however did not confirm when the next round of talks with Iran would be held. Karoline Leavitt said diplomatic engagement with Iran is continuing. “These conversations are productive and ongoing, and that’s where we are right now,’’ she said.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei also said no agreement has been reached on extending the ceasefire.

The two-week ceasefire which began on April 8, is set to expire next week.

While expressing openness to discussing parameters of its nuclear program, Baghaei reiterated Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy and called for sanctions relief as part of any broader settlement.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the new round of US-Iran talks “could be happening over next two days” in Pakistan.

He had also said earlier on Wednesday that the US-Israeli war with Iran is “very close to being over.”

Asim Munir who is leading a high-level delegation, arrived in Tehran to push for the second round of peace talks.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency said Asim Munir is in Tehran for ‘delivering a message from the US’ and pave way for the next round of Iran-US talks.

‘The purpose of the visit is to deliver a US message to the Iranian leadership and to plan the next round of negotiations,’ Tasnim reported, indicating US willingness to hold the second round of talks.

The Pakistani delegation is expected to discuss the framework for the second round.

The first round of talks in Islamabad had failed.