Islamabad gears up for peace talks – but will Iran attend?
Image source,Getty ImagesSecurity personnel at a checkpoint near the Serena Hotel on Monday
Talks between the US and Iran are due to begin in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, later today.
Guests at the city’s Serena Hotel, where failed peace talks were held on 11 April, have been told to leave in preparation of today’s meeting – while police announced the closure of key roads due to the arrival of foreign delegations.
Donald Trump has said his “representatives” would arrive in Islamabad on Monday evening, with Vice-President JD Vance leading the delegation alongside Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
But Iran is yet to formally confirm whether it will attend the talks. The country’s state media reports that officials will not participate while the US blockade of Iranian ports remains.
The two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran is due to end on Wednesday – with Trump repeating threats of destroying Iranian infrastructure if a deal is not reached.
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The US has attacked and seized an Iranian cargo ship attempting to get past its blockade of Iran’s ports, President Trump says
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Trump says the ship was given “fair warning to stop” but the crew “refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom”
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“Vacate your engine room, vacate your engine room, we’re prepared to subject you to disabling fire” – watch the moment US forces attack the ship
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Iran’s military has said it will retaliate – Iranian media says drones have attacked US ships, though no damage has been reported
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The US and Iran are due to hold peace talks in Pakistan on Monday, with Vice-President JD Vance leading the US delegation
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However, Iran’s state media says Tehran has “no plans for now to participate”, although no official has clarified Iran’s position yet
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The US-Iran two-week ceasefire is due to end on Wednesday. On Sunday, Trump again threatened to strike Iranian power plants and bridges if a deal is not reached
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