Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran is ready for dialogue, but won’t let Washington impose its terms.
The US is in discussions on staging a second round of peace talks with Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said.
The first direct meeting between the sides since the US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28 took place in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, at the weekend, but delivered no breakthrough. Tehran blamed the failure of the negotiations on Washington’s “unrealistic demands,” while the US reacted by announcing a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz for Iran-linked vessels.
Speaking about the possibility of another round of talks during a briefing on Wednesday, Leavitt noted that “those discussions are being had, but nothing is official until you hear it from the White House.”
“We feel good about the prospects of a deal… and it’s obviously in the best interest of Iran to meet the president’s demands,” she added.
The talks “would very likely be in the same place as they were last time,” the spokeswoman said, referring to Islamabad.
“The Pakistanis have been incredible mediators throughout this process and we really appreciate their friendship and their efforts to bring this deal to a close,” Leavitt stressed.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated on Wednesday that Tehran “is not seeking war and instability, instead, it has always emphasized the importance of dialogue and constructive interaction with all countries of the world.”
“However, any attempt to impose any will on the country or force it to surrender is doomed to fail and the Iranian nation will never cave in to such an approach,” he stressed.
US President Donald Trump told the New York Post on Tuesday that new talks with Tehran “could be happening over the next two days.” In a separate interview with Fox News, he suggested that the conflict is “very close to being over.”
On Wednesday, Pakistani Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the country’s leadership “is not giving up” on efforts to help achieve a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov welcomed the discussions between the US and Iran, urging the Americans to be “realists” during the negotiating process and “not continue the unprovoked aggression” against Tehran, which affects the entire Middle East.
A ceasefire in Lebanon was one of the conditions for the 1st round of talks but the US-Israel ignored this condition while the mainstream media then pretended it was disputed during the failed 1st round. This same condition (ceasefire in Lebanon) remains one of several conditions for the 2nd round of talks but it seems the US-Israel war criminals are hatching a pretend temporary ceasefire while continuing the war in Lebanon to continue American bad faith negotiations. Smart journalism would expose the deceptions http://www.tasnimnews.ir/en/news/2026/04/16/3567112/what-lies-behind-us-israeli-media-game-over-lebanon-ceasefire
Can the United States be trusted? History says no
https://english.almayadeen.net/articles/analysis/can-the-united-states-be-trusted–history-says-no
The USA is neither interested in peace nor reconstruction. Trump siphons $17 billion from Gaza Fund to benefit Israel. https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2026/04/16/766985/Trump-siphons–17-billion-from-Gaza-Fund-to-benefit-Israel–Report
If the USA genuinely wants peace, they should find they have heaps in common with Iran. These talks are the USA’s last attempts to break Iran https://southfront.press/us-last-attempt-to-break-iran/
The USA desperately needs to make peace with Iran before being forced out of any more bases in the Middle East https://southfront.press/u-s-forces-withdrew-from-key-base-in-syria-after-iranian-attacks-videos-photos/
The 1st talks failed when the USA+Israel refused to meet the conditions for the ceasefire. If the different fronts including Lebanon are united, then these 2nd round of talks might be useful if the USA discovers good faith https://en.ypagency.net/390183
Dumb yanks can’t do much on empty stomachs. Rationing Meals on USS Abraham Lincoln Aircraft Carrier https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/component/content/article/recent-meal-uss-abraham-lincoln-aircraft-carrier?catid=20&Itemid=101
The Fascist regime known as the USA has met its match. It should be clear too, that Russia and China would wipe the floor with them, in a conventional war.
Anyway, what I suspect is happening here is a slow retreat, resist then give a little, resist some more and then give a little more. Until finally they have a deal they can frame as a “win” and are out the door, whilst hopefully the US public/voters have lost interest in what is, in truth, their humiliating defeat.
Now Trump will non-stop whinge https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/component/content/article/houthis-to-block-bab-al-mandab-strait-tomorrow-noon-local-time-in-yemen?catid=17&Itemid=101
Trump is showing his great talent and restraint.