Pakistan offers to host next US-Iran talks as tensions escalate after port blockade

Pakistan has proposed hosting a second round of talks between the United States and Iran, with negotiations potentially resuming as early as April 16, according to officials familiar with the development.

The proposal comes in the wake of the US launching a blockade of Iranian ports, a move confirmed by US President Donald Trump, who said Tehran is now keen to strike a deal. “They would like to make a deal very badly,” Trump said, adding that he had received calls from “appropriate people” seeking an agreement.

According to the Associated Press, two Pakistani officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Islamabad has proposed hosting the next round of negotiations. However, the final decision will depend on whether both Washington and Tehran agree on the venue.

While the first round of talks in Islamabad concluded without a breakthrough, diplomatic engagement between the two sides remains ongoing, reports from Reuters and AP indicated.

Tensions have sharply escalated following the US blockade, with Iran responding by threatening action against ports across the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. US Vice President JD Vance accused Tehran of engaging in “economic terrorism” by disrupting transit through the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that “the ball is now in Tehran’s court.”

Ceasefire negotiations between the two countries ended on April 12 without an agreement, casting doubt over the fate of the current two-week truce set to expire on April 22.

In a strongly worded post on Truth Social, Trump warned Iran against any attempt to challenge the blockade, claiming that much of Iran’s naval capability had already been destroyed. He cautioned that any vessels approaching US positions would be “immediately eliminated,” underscoring the risk of further military escalation in the region.