Trump Says More Iran Talks Possible This Weekend as Progress Has Stalled
April 16, 2026
President Donald Trump said talks with Iran could take place as soon as this weekend and suggested he is not convinced a temporary ceasefire will need to be extended, even as negotiations remain stalled."We're very close to making a deal," Trump said outside the White...
Former President Donald Trump announced Thursday that further talks with Iran could resume as early as this weekend, signaling a potential last-ditch effort to salvage a permanent ceasefire agreement after initial negotiations stalled. The statement injected a note of public optimism into a deeply tense situation, following a week of failed talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, aimed at ending the conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. A fragile two-week truce, brokered by Pakistan, is currently in effect but is set to expire on April 21, leaving a narrow window for diplomacy to avert a return to hostilities.
The diplomatic track follows a period of intense military confrontation. After U.S. and Israeli forces launched major attacks against Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure, a broader regional war loomed. The subsequent negotiations in Islamabad, led by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, broke down on April 12 without a resolution. The core disagreements center on the future of Iran's nuclear program. The United States has reportedly demanded a 20-year halt to all of Iran's uranium enrichment activities and the complete removal of its existing stockpile of highly enriched uranium from the country.
Tehran, while expressing cautious optimism about the diplomatic process, has called these demands excessive. Iranian officials have publicly maintained that the right to peaceful enrichment is non-negotiable, though they have indicated that the level of enrichment could be a topic for discussion. Iran countered the U.S. proposal with an offer to suspend its nuclear activity for five years, a gap that mediators have struggled to bridge. Adding to the pressure, the Trump administration has maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports, a move Trump has credited, along with recent bombing campaigns, for bringing Iran to the negotiating table.
The international community remains on edge, with various stakeholders invested in the outcome. Pakistan has emerged as a central intermediary, hosting the talks and engaging in shuttle diplomacy to keep the process alive. Israel, a key U.S. partner in the recent military actions, firmly supports the demand for the complete removal of Iran's enriched uranium. Meanwhile, other powers, including European nations, have urged a return to diplomacy, while Russia's reported offer to store Iran's uranium as part of a deal was declined by the U.S.
As the weekend approaches, all eyes are on Islamabad and the respective capitals. Trump has floated the possibility of traveling to Pakistan for a signing ceremony if a deal is reached, a sign of his desire for a diplomatic victory. However, Iranian officials have been more circumspect, stating that no firm date has been set for a new round of talks. The coming days will be critical in determining whether the fragile ceasefire will transform into a more durable peace or collapse back into a wider and more destructive regional conflict.
Source: newsmax