President Trump announced Sunday that U.S. negotiators will arrive in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Monday night to continue the peace talks that broke down last weekend (see New: Peace Talks With Iranian Regime Have Failed, Vance Gives Details From Islamabad – RedState). The announcement follows a highly unusual Saturday morning meeting in the White House situation room; see Trump Convenes Rare Saturday Situation Room Meeting As Uncertainty Swirls About Iran Negotiations – RedState. This new round was announced in an environment less likely to produce positive results than the previous round.
Since the last talks, Iran has walked back or violated every element that was seemingly agreed to; see Iranian Navy Fires On Two Vessels in Strait of Hormuz, Demonstrating That Waterway Is Not Open – RedState. Additionally, President Trump has imposed an ultimatum: either produce a deal by Wednesday or the war starts; see Trump: I Will End Ceasefire Wednesday Unless Deal Done — but Xi's 'Very Happy' As Hormuz Reopens – RedState. His ultimatum became more emphatic on Sunday.
Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz — A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom. That wasn’t nice, was it? My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan — They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations. Iran recently announced that they were closing the Strait, which is strange, because our BLOCKADE has already closed it. They’re helping us without knowing, and they are the ones that lose with the closed passage, $500 Million Dollars a day! The United States loses nothing. In fact, many Ships are headed, right now, to the U.S., Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska, to load up, compliments of the IRGC, always wanting to be “the tough guy!” We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years. IT’S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END! President DONALD J. TRUMP
The lead negotiators will include Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who were also at the last meeting. It is unclear if Vice President Vance will lead the team.
President Trump just told me Vance will not be going to Islamabad. He said the issue is security — the Secret Service couldn’t do it on 24 hours notice.
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) April 19, 2026
“It’s only because of security,” he told me. “JD’s great.” https://t.co/geDNJhN8p1
In addition to the generally hostile atmosphere, any talks will be hampered by our counterparty's inability actually to make a deal it can carry out. As we saw this week, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps refuses to take a back seat to the "elected" leadership; see Here's More Evidence the Iranian Regime Is Fracturing and in Trouble as Trump Holds Its Feet to the Fire – RedState.
My guess is that if the talks are pro forma and a prelude to resuming the war, then Vance stays home so that he is not associated with the failure. If prospects are good, then he goes as someone who can close the deal on behalf of the administration; see Only Vance Can Go to Pakistan – RedState.
What is unclear is whether the Iranians will participate.
Iran will not send a negotiating team to Islamabad while the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports continues and no negotiations will take place, the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News reports. Meanwhile, the exchange of messages between the sides is ongoing.
— Ariel Oseran أريئل أوسيران (@ariel_oseran) April 19, 2026
Iran will not send a negotiating team to Islamabad while the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports continues and no negotiations will take place, the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News reports. Meanwhile, the exchange of messages between the sides is ongoing.
Trump ending the blockade while Iran pointedly retains control of the Strait of Hormuz would be a major loss of face for the U.S. and would fly in the face of President Trump's assertion that the war is being brought to a successful conclusion.
On the whole, the odds are much greater that the war resumes Wednesday night/Thursday morning than an agreement can be reached that is acceptable to and politically survivable by both sides.
For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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