US, Iran may return to Islamabad for new round of talks this week – Reuters

Negotiating delegations from the United States and Iran may return to Islamabad later this week, five sources told Reuters on April 14, following high-level discussions that concluded without a breakthrough.

A source involved in the process said a specific date has not yet been agreed, though both sides could come back as early as the end of the week.

"No firm date has been set, with the delegations keeping ⁠Friday through Sunday open," a senior Iranian source said.

The weekend discussions in Pakistan’s capital aimed at addressing tensions between Washington and Tehran, held four days after a ceasefire announcement last Tuesday, marked the first direct engagement between US and Iranian officials in more than a decade, and the highest-level contact since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

A proposal has been circulated to both sides urging them to send their delegations back to continue negotiations, according to the first source.

Two Pakistani sources familiar with the process said Islamabad is in contact with both parties regarding scheduling the next round, which is likely to take place over the weekend.

"We have reached out to Iran and we got a positive response that they will be open to a second round of talks," a senior Pakistani government official said.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry, military, and prime minister’s office did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment, while the White House also did not immediately issue a response.

By Jeyhun Aghazada