President Donald Trump declared Monday he would personally be willing to meet with senior Iranian leaders if a breakthrough is achieved in Islamabad, as a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance landed in the Pakistani capital for a second high-stakes round of negotiations.
The talks take place amid a fragile ceasefire set to expire within days.
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In a phone interview with the New York Post, Trump confirmed the delegation was already airborne. "They're heading over now," he said.
Asked on whether he himself would be open to meeting Iranian officials should talks progress, the president did not hesitate: "I have no problem meeting them. If they want to meet, and we have some very capable people, but I have no problem meeting them."
On the prospects of a deal being struck, telling the Post, Trump said, "nobody's playing games" at this stage. "We're supposed to have the talks," he said.
In a separate call with Axios, he went further: "I feel fine about it. The concept of the deal is done. I think we have a very good chance to get it completed."
Vance, who led the first round of historic face-to-face talks in Islamabad on April 11–12, is again heading the American delegation, with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner accompanying him.
The first round of talks — the first direct US-Iran engagement in decades — lasted 21 hours but ended without a deal, with Iran's nuclear programme and the status of the Strait of Hormuz remaining the central unresolved disputes.
The renewed push comes amid a rapidly deteriorating situation on the ground.
Iran, reportedly, fired on commercial vessels in the Strait on Saturday after announcing it was once again closing the waterway, prompting Trump to write on Truth Social: "Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz — A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement!"
Trump also warned of catastrophic consequences if diplomacy fails, "We're offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don't, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. No more Mr. Nice guy!"
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Whereas, Iran is "positively reviewing" participation in the second round of talks, a senior Iranian official told Reuters, though no final decision had been made as of Monday morning.
Tehran's chief negotiator, Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, has acknowledged that "many gaps and some fundamental points remain" between the two sides — but insisted Iran would not retreat from diplomacy.
Meanwhile, the ceasefire expires Tuesday night.
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