The ceasefire between Iran, the US is hanging in the balance. What you need to know – National
A ceasefire in Iran hangs in the balance as Pakistan’s capital stands ready for possible new talks between Tehran and Washington.
As of now, the two-week ceasefire will expire at 0000 GMT on Wednesday (8 pm ET Tuesday.)
But the agreement between Iran, Israel and the United States began after several days set by US President Donald Trump that threatened the “civilization” of Iran at the same time. More delays or unexpected changes will be the norm leading up to the deadline.
Serious challenges face the talks that could be held in Islamabad before the end of the ceasefire period on the future of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program and other issues.
Meanwhile, Iran directed ships to the crisis over the weekend. The US also attacked and boarded one Iranian ship that tried to bypass US naval blockades in the mess – indicating that the situation is still volatile and that a resumption of war is not out of the question.
Here’s what you need to know about where the ceasefire stands, possible talks with Pakistan and other issues surrounding the war.
Ceasefire deadline mechanisms
The ceasefire began on April 8, although Iranian attacks were directed at the Gulf Arab states and Israel after it began.
Another mysterious attack hit an Iranian oil refinery on the island that afternoon.
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However, it has been widely held. The two-week deadline means it will expire on April 22 unless an extension is agreed by the parties, either through public messages or by allowing it to pass without directly resuming hostilities.
But the risks remain, especially if no diplomatic agreement has been reached yet.
The previous round of talks between Iran and the US was held in Pakistan from April 11 until the next morning.
US Vice President JD Vance has been involved in high-level talks between the US and Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which ended without an agreement. As of this weekend, the authorities in Islamabad have made preparations similar to those that accompanied the initial talks, suggesting that there will be another round.
The White House said Vance will return to Islamabad for a new round of talks in the coming days with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. But so far, neither Iran nor the US has sent a delegation to Pakistan.
The Strait of Hormuz has been successfully closed
The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20 percent of all natural gas and oil flows, remains effectively closed due to Iranian attacks on the waterway. That includes some raids on Saturday.
There are also fears that Iran has dug a section of the road that ships use during peacetime. Since the start of the war, Iran has reportedly been charging an estimated US$2 million per ship for passage.
The opening of this problem remains the main focus of negotiations and Tehran’s strong power against Washington, especially since countries around the world have begun to balance power and warn of a shortage of jet fuel.
The US Navy attacked an Iranian container ship that tried to intercept a space shuttle this weekend, and Marines entered it from helicopters.
All of Iran’s most-enriched uranium remains in the country, likely mined from enrichment sites blown up by the US during the 12-day war last June.
Iran has never enriched itself since then but maintains that it has the right to do so for peaceful purposes and denies seeking nuclear weapons. Trump, along with Israel, has called on Iran to completely dismantle its nuclear program and abandon its nuclear arsenal. Iran rejected that in its 10-point proposal to end the war.
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