US media reports suggest that President Donald Trump has indicated he is open to resuming direct talks if Iran is willing to meet US demands. Speaking to reporters on Monday, he said, “We’ve been called by the other side” and “they want to work a deal.”
According to sources cited by the Associated Press, Washington and Tehran are considering Islamabad and Geneva as possible venues for the next round.
Officials familiar with the matter said discussions are still ongoing. A diplomat from a mediating country stated that both sides have agreed in principle to meet again but key details such as timing, venue and the level of participation have not yet been finalised. A US official said the talks could take place on Thursday.
US Vice President JD Vance, who led the American delegation in Islamabad, described the outcome of the previous talks as mixed. “I wouldn’t just say that things went wrong. I also think things went right. We made a lot of progress,” he told Fox News.
He added, “They moved in our direction, which is why I think we would say that we had some good signs, but they didn’t move far enough.”
On Sunday, the Islamabad negotiations lasted 21 hours but ended without a deal. The US delegation, led by Vance, held discussions with the Iranian team led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
The talks focused on maintaining the ceasefire, which remains uncertain amid continued regional tensions, including Israeli attacks on Southern Lebanon.
Key issues under discussion included the Strait of Hormuz, a major global energy route that Iran has effectively blocked and which the US has pledged to reopen. Iran’s nuclear programme and international sanctions also remain central points of disagreement.
