Top updates: White House says second round of US-Iran talks likely in Pakistan

The United States is considering a second round of peace talks with Iran and remains optimistic about the chances of a deal, Reuters quoted the White House as saying on Wednesday.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the next round would “very likely” be held in Islamabad, adding that Pakistan is the “only mediator” in the talks.

Leavitt also denied reports that Washington had formally sought an extension of the two-week ceasefire agreed on April 8, even as it remains actively engaged in discussions.

“Nothing is official until you hear it from us here at the White House,” she said.

Leavitt added that the administration feels “good about the prospects of a deal” despite the recent round of talks ending without an agreement.

Here are more top updates from the conflict in West Asia:

• Round two of peace talks: The US press secretary said that Washington expected communication with Tehran to continue through Pakistani channels, with further in-person discussions likely to take place in Islamabad. She added: “The Pakistanis have been incredible mediators and we really appreciate their friendship and efforts to bring this deal to a close.”
• The remarks came as Pakistan stepped up diplomatic efforts to revive the stalled talks. A delegation led by army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir travelled to Tehran “to narrow gaps” between the two sides, Reuters reported. On the same day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif left for a four-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey,  in an attempt to bolster peace efforts by coordinating support from other regional powers, The Guardian reported.
• Meanwhile, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said Tel Aviv remains aligned with the US on objectives regarding Iran, including curbing its nuclear capabilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, AFP reported. Netanyahu also reiterated goals to “dismantle” Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. 

• Fresh sanctions: The US has imposed fresh sanctions targeting more than two dozen persons, companies and vessels linked to Iranian oil transport networks, AFP reported. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington was “moving aggressively” against Iran-linked business interests and warned of possible secondary sanctions on countries buying Iranian crude, AP reported.
• “The Iranians should know that this is going to be the financial equivalent of what we saw in the kinetic activities,” AP quoted Bessent as saying.
• He added that the US would not renew waivers that had allowed countries including India to purchase some Russian and Iranian oil without triggering sanctions. “That was oil that was on the water prior to March 11,” he said. “So, all that has been used.”
• Hormuz blockade: The US Central Command said that it had stopped 10 vessels in the first 48 hours of its naval blockade of Iranian ports, disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. However, maritime tracking data indicated that at least three ships were still attempting to pass through the strategic waterway, AFP reported. 
• Hunger index: The World Bank has warned the conflict’s economic fallout could sharply increase global hunger, with an estimated 300 million people already facing acute food insecurity and numbers expected to rise by around 20%, AFP reported. 

The war

The US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran’s action posed an existential threat to Israel. Washington acts as a guarantor of Israel’s security. Iran retaliated by striking Israel and US military bases in the region and targeting major cities in Gulf countries.

Tehran also effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterbody connecting the Gulf to the Arabian Sea, for most international commercial vessels, triggering a global energy crisis. About 20% of global petroleum supply passes through the maritime chokepoint.

Washington and Tehran had on April 8 agreed to a two-week ceasefire to allow further negotiations to end the conflict. While Israel, which was not involved in the talks, has not struck Iran since the ceasefire took effect, it has continued to attack Lebanon. However, peace talks that were held in Islamabad collapsed on Sunday.

Israel has been claiming that Iran is close to obtaining a nuclear weapon, which could alter the regional security balance. Tehran has long maintained that its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes.