PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday he had urged the United States President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to resume talks and avoid further escalation.
Macron said he spoke on Monday with Trump and Pezeshkian and called for diplomacy after talks in Islamabad last weekend.
“I urged the resumption of the negotiations suspended in Islamabad, the clearing up of misunderstandings, and the avoidance of any further escalation,” Macron said in a post on X.
The French leader stressed the need for all sides to prevent further deterioration in the situation.
He also underlined the importance of maintaining a ceasefire and broadening its scope.
Macron said it was essential that the ceasefire be fully respected by all parties and noted that it should also include Lebanon.
Yesterday, I spoke with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, as well as with U.S. President Donald Trump.
I urged the resumption of the negotiations suspended in Islamabad, the clearing up of misunderstandings, and the avoidance of any further escalation.…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 14, 2026
Macron emphasised the urgency of restoring normal operations in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies.
“It is equally important that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened unconditionally, without restrictions or tolls, as soon as possible,” he said.
He added that under such conditions, negotiations could resume quickly with the support of key stakeholders.
US, Iran weigh second round of talks
The US and Iran are weighing a second round of peace negotiations, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.
Pakistan, which mediated the first round of high-stakes US-Iran talks in Islamabad last weekend, has intensified diplomatic efforts to sustain dialogue and prevent further escalation.
Iranian officials are exploring a short-term halt to shipments via the vital energy corridor to avoid testing a US naval blockade and to create space and resume peace talks, according to Bloomberg.
According to Bloomberg, Washington and Tehran are considering holding another round of negotiations before the two-week Pakistan-brokered ceasefire agreed on April 7 expires next week.
One option under discussion is to return to Islamabad, which hosted the first round of talks, though other venues are also being considered, Bloomberg reported.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press, citing US officials and a diplomat from a mediating country, reported that talks could resume as early as Thursday, with both sides agreeing in principle to continue engagement.
According to reports, Pakistan remains central to diplomatic efforts, having facilitated direct talks between US and Iranian delegations in Islamabad last weekend.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye this week, with discussions expected to focus on regional stability, energy cooperation and economic ties.
Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for peace
The earlier round of talks in Islamabad marked one of the highest-level engagements between the US and Iran in decades.
While no final agreement was reached, both Washington and Tehran described the Islamabad Talks as constructive and signalled willingness to continue the peace process to end the conflict.
According to Reuters, communication between the parties has remained active, with Pakistan continuing to exchange messages between the two sides to maintain momentum.
A senior Pakistani official said Islamabad had received a “positive response” from Iran regarding a second round of talks, though no firm date has been confirmed.
Negotiating teams from the US and Iran could return to Islamabad later this week for another round of peace talks, Reuters and other credible international media outlets reported on Tuesday, citing sources.
Reuters reported that no firm date has yet been decided, but both sides could return as early as the end of this week.
“No firm date has been set, with the delegations keeping Friday through Sunday open,” a senior Iranian source, cited by Reuters, said.
A proposal has already been circulated to both Washington and Tehran, suggesting that delegations reconvene in Islamabad to continue talks, according to reports.
Two Pakistani sources familiar with the matter said Islamabad has been actively communicating with both sides regarding the timing of the next round of talks, and that a weekend meeting remains the most likely option if negotiations proceed.
