US officials to visit Pak on Mon, Trump says Iran could be ‘blown up’ if no deal

Uncertainty over Iran participation and Strait of Hormuz tensions dominate upcoming talks.

The United States (US) will send a delegation to Pakistan on Monday, April 20, for a second round of negotiations with Iran, as President Donald Trump warned of severe consequences if Tehran refuses a proposed deal.

Trump said American negotiators would arrive in Islamabad but did not specify the officials involved. Iran has not confirmed participation, maintaining that it will not engage in talks while a US naval blockade remains in place, Associated Press reported.

US says Strait of Hormuz talks ‘going well’, deal not far

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said negotiations with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz are “going well” and that Washington is “not too far away from a deal”.

Speaking on Fox News Sunday, he said talks are progressing despite public rhetoric, describing President Donald Trump as a “creative negotiator” who uses pressure and uncertainty.

Wright added that once the strait reopens, shipping is expected to resume, though it may take some time to fully normalise.

Iran yet to decide on Pakistan talks amid blockade

Iran has not yet decided whether to send a delegation to Pakistan for the next round of talks, as long as the US naval blockade remains in place, according to Tasnim News Agency. The report said Tehran is holding back on committing to negotiations under current conditions.

Iran VP praises negotiators

Iran’s Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref praised the country’s negotiating team, saying they were “bravely defending” national interests, while criticising the opposing side as “volatile”, shifting from “begging when pressured” to a stubborn approach, Al Jazeera reported.

India flags safety concerns after firing incident in Strait of Hormuz

An Indian-flagged tanker safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz, while two vessels turned back after coming under fire, prompting New Delhi to raise concerns with Iran over maritime safety, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.

Desh Garima, with 31 Indian crew, transited the route on April 18 and is due in Mumbai on April 22. In contrast, Samnar Herad and Jag Arnav reversed course after a firing incident, though no injuries were reported.

India summoned Iran’s ambassador, stressing the need to protect merchant shipping and resume safe passage. Additional vessels also turned back, with 14 India-flagged ships now in the Persian Gulf.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route, remains under strain amid ongoing regional tensions.

Confusion over delegation as Vance role shifts

Uncertainty surrounded the participation of Vice President JD Vance. Trump initially said Vance would not attend due to security concerns, but US officials later clarified that he would be part of the delegation heading to Islamabad.

Trump calls talks ‘last chance’, escalates rhetoric

Describing the negotiations as a “last chance”, Trump warned that failure to reach an agreement could trigger major escalation, including threats to Iran’s infrastructure such as power plants and bridges.

He also accused Iran of violating the ceasefire in the Strait of Hormuz and said a deal would happen “the nice way or the hard way”, reiterating that Washington would act decisively if talks fail, The Washington Post reported.

Iran refuses talks under blockade, says gaps remain

Iran has maintained it will not negotiate under current blockade conditions. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said discussions remain far from final, noting that key gaps persist despite limited progress, The Washington Post reported.

Strait of Hormuz tensions intensify

Tensions remain high in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route, after Iran moved to restrict maritime traffic again following a brief reopening.

Iranian forces turned back vessels attempting to transit the waterway and warned that any unauthorised movement could be treated as hostile, amid the continuing US maritime blockade, The Guardian reported.

Arrests, internet blackout and military preparedness

Iranian authorities reported the arrest of four individuals, including two foreign nationals, over alleged links to a US-Israel espionage network.

The suspects were accused of importing banned satellite internet equipment.

The country has also experienced a near-total internet blackout in recent weeks, with hundreds detained on accusations of cooperating with enemy states.

Iran signalled continued military readiness, saying it has accelerated the replenishment of missile launchers during the ceasefire. Army chief Amir Hatami said forces remain prepared to confront adversaries.

Flights resume despite ongoing tensions

Iran has reopened six airports, including those in Tehran and Mashhad, with international flights from Mashhad expected to resume on Monday, indicating partial restoration of civilian operations.

Lebanon ceasefire under strain amid Israeli warning

In Lebanon, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned of possible military action if Beirut fails to meet commitments under a 10-day ceasefire aimed at curbing Hezbollah’s activities.

Ongoing strikes and the creation of a new military boundary have raised concerns about the durability of the truce.

Turkey urges continued talks, ceasefire extension

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said both Washington and Tehran appear willing to continue negotiations despite unresolved differences and called for an extension of the ceasefire.

Global reactions

Pope Leo XIV described the ceasefire as a “reason for hope”.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to postpone court testimony citing security concerns, but prosecutors rejected the request, requiring him to appear as scheduled.