The US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance had not departed Washington by Tuesday afternoon amid uncertainty over whether peace talks with Iran would proceed in Islamabad. The ceasefire between the two nations was set to expire at different times according to each side—Iran's state media cited 0000 GMT Tuesday, the US pointed to Wednesday evening Washington time, while Pakistan, the mediator, stated 2350 GMT Tuesday. No final decision had been made by Iran on participation, with foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei citing "contradictory messages" and "unacceptable actions" from the US. President Donald Trump claimed a "very, very strong negotiating" position and said Iran "has no choice" but to make a deal, while also stating the port blockade would continue until an agreement was reached. Trump warned that if the truce ended, "lots of bombs start going off." The US Defence Department intercepted a "stateless sanctioned" vessel linked to Iranian activity, according to AFP. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran would not accept talks "under the shadow of threats" and would "show new cards on the battlefield" if hostilities resumed. Residents in Tehran reported worsening conditions during the ceasefire, with 39-year-old Saghar saying, "This cursed ceasefire has broken us." Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged both sides to extend the truce, while Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said no formal response had been received from Iran. Oil prices fell and stocks rose globally despite the uncertainty.
Vice President JD Vance was expected to lead talks that might not happen, while the ceasefire expires under conflicting clocks no one can agree on. The US insists on a strong position but keeps moving the goalposts with unilateral actions like the port blockade. Iranians on the ground say the truce has only deepened their hardship, not eased it. When diplomacy runs on mismatched timelines and coercive measures, the outcome is already written.
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