Summary
- President Donald Trump said he had extended the negotiation deadline with Iran by one day, from April 21 to April 22.
- Trump said the chances of a ceasefire extension with Iran were very low, while also mentioning a deal better than the 2015 nuclear deal.
- US Central Command said 27 vessels had turned back under blockade measures near the Strait of Hormuz and that it was conducting a container search of the Iranian cargo ship Tuskaho.
Forecast Trend Report by Period
President Donald Trump said on April 20 that the deadline for negotiations with Iran would expire on April 22, a day later than the previously cited April 21 cutoff. The shift appears intended to buy more time for talks.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Trump said Wednesday evening Eastern time, or April 22, would mark the end of the ceasefire window. He said the odds of extending the two-week ceasefire were “very low.” A US negotiating team is set to leave for Pakistan on April 21. Iran is also poised to send a delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to Islamabad.
Vance’s Role Unclear as Second Round of Talks Remains Clouded
Trump Sends Mixed Signals on Deal as Iranian Team Appears Bound for Pakistan
The two-week ceasefire has effectively been extended by a day, but talks between Washington and Tehran have yet to gain traction. Messages from the two governments have diverged, while military tensions tied to the Strait of Hormuz blockade remain high.
In the US, confusion persists over when Vice President JD Vance will join the talks. Most of the US delegation has already arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, the site of the second round of negotiations, according to reports. Vance may join at the last minute after watching how the talks unfold.
Trump told the New York Post that Vance was heading to Pakistan and would arrive soon. Other media reports differ. Reuters reported that Vance was still in the US. The New York Times said he was expected to leave for Islamabad on April 21. Axios, citing sources, also reported that he was scheduled to depart on the morning of April 21.
Trump has alternated between suggesting a deal is within reach and issuing tougher pressure messages. In a social media post, he wrote that any agreement reached by the two countries would be “far better” than the 2015 nuclear deal. He added that he was under no pressure and that everything would happen relatively quickly. In his Bloomberg interview, however, Trump said an extension of the ceasefire with Iran was unlikely.
The shifting messages have drawn different interpretations. One view is that Trump may be trying to unsettle Iran to secure a more favorable outcome. Another is that the conflict is lasting longer than expected, leaving him increasingly uneasy.
Iran’s position on the talks is also unclear. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said of a second round of negotiations, “As of this moment, no plan or decision has been made regarding the next talks.” Mediating countries, however, say Iran has already decided to take part and that its delegation will head to Islamabad on April 21.
Military tensions have not eased. US Central Command said on April 20 that 27 vessels had turned back after it imposed blockade measures on Iran-linked ships near the Strait of Hormuz. The US military is also searching thousands of containers aboard the seized Iranian cargo ship Tuskaho.
Lee Sang-eun, Washington correspondent, and Lee Hye-in, reporter
selee@hankyung.com
Korea Economic Daily
hankyung@bloomingbit.ioThe Korea Economic Daily Global is a digital media where latest news on Korean companies, industries, and financial markets.
