WASHINGTON: US Vice President JD Vance and a high-level American delegation are en route to Pakistan and are expected to land in Islamabad within hours for the next round of talks with Iran, President Donald Trump said on Monday.
Pakistan is set to host a second round of high-stakes talks between the US and Iran this week.
The talks, scheduled in Islamabad, follow an initial round that kept diplomatic channels open amid ongoing tensions.
“They’re heading over now,” Trump told the New York Post in an interview shortly after 9 a.m. EST. “They’ll be there tonight, [Islamabad] time.”
Trump confirmed that the delegation includes Vice President Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner.
Speaking in a brief interview, Trump dismissed concerns that the negotiations could collapse.
“We’re supposed to have the talks,” he said. “So I would assume at this point nobody’s playing games.”
JD Vance, US delegation to land in Islamabad within hours asTrump tells The Post: 'Nobody's playing games' https://t.co/e4MrzbR1Fe pic.twitter.com/rsF0tqJldl
— New York Post (@nypost) April 20, 2026
Trump open to direct meeting with Iranian leaders
Meanwhile, Pakistan has intensified diplomatic efforts to sustain dialogue between Washington and Tehran ahead of the expiry of the 14-day ceasefire.
Trump indicated he was open to a direct meeting with Iranian leaders if progress is made.
“I have no problem meeting them,” he said. “If they want to meet, and we have some very capable people, but I have no problem meeting them.”
Trump told me he was also open to a dramatic diplomatic step: meeting directly with Iranian leadership if the opportunity arises.https://t.co/AoYYJBBjJW https://t.co/yORgW0j5bq
— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) April 20, 2026
The US President said the main objective of the negotiations remained Iran’s nuclear programme, reiterating Washington’s demand that Tehran abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons.
“Get rid of their nuclear weapons. That’s all very simple,” Trump said. “There will be no nuclear weapon,” Trump said as quoted by the New York Post.
He added that Iran could prosper if it complies with these demands. “Otherwise, a wonderful country — it truly could be,” he said.
Iran ‘positively’ reviewing US peace talks participation
A senior Iranian official, cited by Geo News, said on Monday that Tehran is positively reviewing its participation in potential peace talks with the US.
The Iranian official said positive efforts are underway by mediator Pakistan to end the US blockade of Iranian ports and to ensure Iran’s participation in the peace talks.
Asked about Iran’s negotiating leadership, Trump said the United States believed it was engaging with the appropriate counterparts.
“We have pretty good ideas, and we think we’re dealing with the right people,” he said.
US-Iran talks in Islamabad on track
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts have focused on Islamabad, where a second round of US–Iran talks is scheduled to commence as the US negotiation team is set to land today.
The US and Iran have privately assured participation in a second round of talks in Islamabad, despite public rhetoric and mixed signals from Tehran.
Syed Muhammad Ali, a senior security analyst, told WE News English that both sides remain committed to dialogue and that recent statements by the US and Iranians were largely aimed at domestic audiences rather than reflecting a breakdown in diplomacy.
“Despite public posturing, both Iran and the US have assured participation in the second round of talks in Islamabad,” he said, adding that the rhetoric was primarily intended for domestic audiences and that the talks were expected to proceed as planned.
Pakistan has stepped up high-level contacts with both Washington and Tehran over the past 24 hours to keep the talks on schedule, expressing confidence that negotiations will proceed as planned.
The renewed push comes as a ceasefire between the two sides approaches its expiry on April 22, increasing pressure to secure an extension or broader agreement.
Active and constructive engagement
While Iran’s foreign ministry has said no final decision has been made on participation, Pakistani officials indicated that behind-the-scenes engagement remains active and constructive.
Officials in Islamabad said discussions are expected to focus on extending the ceasefire and moving towards a more comprehensive settlement.
Pakistan, which brokered the initial 14-day truce earlier this month, continues to position itself as an “honest broker”, facilitating communication between the two sides.
The first round of talks helped establish rare direct channels between Washington and Tehran, laying the groundwork for continued engagement despite ongoing tensions.
Officials said progress so far, combined with intensified diplomatic outreach, offers a realistic opportunity to sustain dialogue and prevent escalation.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also remained actively engaged, holding discussions with regional leaders and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to build support for the peace process.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has emphasised that Pakistan’s objective goes beyond a temporary truce, aiming instead for a lasting and comprehensive resolution.
Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Tehran remained engaged in dialogue but was prepared for escalation, reflecting deep mistrust of Washington.
