Iranian state television on Tuesday, April 21, issued an on-screen alert saying that “no delegation from Iran has visited Islamabad … so far” as speculation about possible talks with the United States grows.
Iranian state TV has long been controlled by hard-liners within Iran’s theocracy.
So far, no official has acknowledged that a delegation will be heading to Islamabad, where officials have been on standby for days now for the possible talks.
US Vice President JD Vance is expected to lead an American team to the talks. Iran has offered no word on who could lead its delegation. Last time, parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf led the Iranian side.
Pakistani officials said diplomatic contacts with Washington and Tehran intensified over the past 24 hours to keep talks on schedule. A Pakistani official told Reuters there were “positive signals” from Iran, with efforts under way to secure its delegation’s arrival.
Associated Press reported stepped-up engagement by Pakistan, while The Washington Post said Islamabad urged US President Donald Trump to avoid strong public rhetoric that could derail diplomacy.
Trump warned of “great destruction” if talks fail, while asserting the US was “winning the war by a lot”. In posts on Truth Social, he criticised coverage by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, claiming they misrepresented battlefield realities.
He also said Iran was suffering heavy losses and facing severe economic pressure due to the naval blockade.
CNN reported that officials within the administration believe Trump’s statements have damaged trust, with Iranian negotiators wary of engaging under public pressure and sensitive to perceptions of weakness.
Sources indicated Tehran proposed a 10-year suspension of uranium enrichment, followed by a controlled framework allowing limited activity below weapons-grade levels.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said negotiations would not proceed under threats, accusing Washington of attempting to impose terms through coercion.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Mohammad Ishaq Dar that US actions against Iranian commercial vessels were undermining diplomatic prospects.
Axios reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader approved negotiations, although internal pressure from the Revolutionary Guard has pushed negotiators towards a firmer stance.
Bloomberg reported a drop in oil prices amid indications that Iran could still participate in talks.
Maritime activity in the Strait of Hormuz has slowed sharply, with Iran’s Tasnim agency reporting only three vessels passed through in a 12-hour period, reflecting heightened tensions linked to the US blockade.
A US naval operation has intensified the standoff after forces seized the Iran-linked M/V Touska for allegedly breaching the blockade.
The United States Central Command said a guided-missile destroyer disabled the vessel before Marines boarded it. US media reports said the ship could be treated as “spoils of war” depending on its cargo.
Iran has condemned the seizure and warned of retaliation, while still withholding a final decision on attending the Islamabad talks.
The near-total shutdown of the internet in Iran “is now in its 53rd day after 1,248 hours of disconnection from global networks”, internet watchdog NetBlocks said on Tuesday.
The restrictions followed antigovernment protests in early January and intensified after the start of the US-Israel war on Iran on February 28.
Israeli officials have warned that ongoing negotiations do not address Iran’s ballistic missile programme, raising concerns about future security risks if the issue remains unresolved.
Israel is seeking to establish what it describes as an “advanced defence line” across parts of Syria and Lebanon, citing strategic terrain and
security considerations.
Lebanese authorities said Israeli strikes have killed at least 2,387 people and injured 7,602 since early March. Recovery operations continue in areas hit by heavy bombardment, with fears the toll may rise.
British media assessments describe the current phase as marked by confusion and unpredictability, driven by conflicting US messaging and entrenched mistrust between the parties.
With the ceasefire nearing its end, the outcome of the proposed Islamabad talks remains unclear, leaving the region at a critical juncture.
This post was last modified on April 21, 2026 2:58 pm