US, Iran negotiating teams could return to Islamabad this week after talks stall – report

Author: Published: April 14, 2026

Negotiating teams from the US and Iran could return to Islamabad this week to continue talks, following a lack of breakthrough in their last meeting.

A Pakistani official stands during the arrival of the US Vice President JD Vance for talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, April 11, 2026.
A Pakistani official stands during the arrival of the US Vice President JD Vance for talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, April 11, 2026.
(photo credit: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS) 
ByREUTERS, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Updated: 
Negotiating teams from the US and Iran could return to Islamabad this week, four sources said on Tuesday, days after the highest-level talks between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution ended in the Pakistani capital without a breakthrough.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump said Iran had called that morning and that “they’d like to work a deal.” Reuters could not immediately verify the assertion.

US Vice President JD Vance said that the previous peace talks between the US and Iran, which took place over the weekend, had ended as a result of the Iranian team’s lack of approval to cut a deal, and that it’s up to Iran to take the next step in negotiations on Monday evening.

Among the slew of issues at stake last weekend was the Strait of Hormuz, a major transit point for global energy supplies that Iran has effectively blocked, but the US has vowed to reopen, as well as Iran’s nuclear program and international sanctions on Tehran.

During the negotiations, the US made clear that it would need to take possession of the enriched uranium Iran has in its possession, and that mechanisms would need to be put in place to ensure that Iran would be unable to enrich uranium again, Vance said.

Breakthrough in talks?

“Those are really the two things where, frankly, the Iranians, I think, did make some progress,” Vance said.

Vance also said, regarding the Strait of Hormuz, “It was one of the things where the Iranians tried to move the goalposts during the negotiation.”

A US source said the Iranians did not properly understand that the core US aim was to have a deal that ensured Iran would never obtain a nuclear weapon. Among Iran’s concerns was a distrust of US intentions.

“There was a strong hope in the middle of the talks that there would be a breakthrough and the two sides would reach an agreement. However, things changed within no time,” a Pakistani government source said.

Another source involved in the talks said the parties came “very close” to an agreement and were “80% there” before running into decisions that could not be settled on the spot.

Danya Saperstein contributed to this report.

Israeli, Lebanese ambassadors set for historic meeting in Washington on Hezbollah disarmament

Author: Published: April 14, 2026

Israel and Lebanon’s ambassadors meet in Washington to discuss disarming Hezbollah and achieving peace, with the US mediating talks to ensure Israel’s long-term security.

Israel's Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter the President residence in Jerusalem, February 16, 2025.
Israel’s Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter the President residence in Jerusalem, February 16, 2025. 
(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90) 
ByAMICHAI STEIN
Updated: 
Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, is scheduled to meet today with Lebanon’s Ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh, in what is being described as a historic meeting.

The immediate focus will be on efforts to disarm the terrorist organization Hezbollah, while the broader goal is to open a path toward normalization between Israel and Lebanon.

Meeting to include top US officials

The meeting will take place at the US State Department and will include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, his senior adviser Michael Needham, and US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa.

A senior American official said ahead of the meeting, “The goal is to ensure Israel’s long-term security and to support the Lebanese government’s determination to fully restore its sovereignty over its territory and political life.”

The official added that Israel is not at war with Lebanon, but with Hezbollah, and therefore “there is no reason the two neighbors cannot engage in dialogue.”

The recent call raised hopes for progress

Last Friday, the two ambassadors held a phone call that Leiter described as “excellent.” In an interview with CBS, he said, “We agreed that if the Hezbollah issue is set aside, the two countries could reach a peace agreement within two to three months. Lebanon and Israel could live under a peace agreement as early as tomorrow.”

In a statement following the call, the Israeli ambassador said Israel agreed to Tuesday’s meeting to help advance a peace agreement with Lebanon. However, he stressed that Israel would not discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah, which continues to attack Israel and remains a key obstacle to peace.

Disarmament remains a central issue

Israeli officials have said in recent weeks that the Lebanese government has not made a genuine effort to disarm Hezbollah. According to them, the US-mediated meeting is intended to push that process forward.

“Without Hezbollah’s disarmament, there will be no peace between the two countries,” one official said.

On the Lebanese side, however, the main priority is securing some form of ceasefire from Israel.

Tensions continue despite reduced activity

Over the past week, following the ceasefire with Iran, Israel has scaled back its military activity in Lebanon at the request of President Donald Trump.

Israeli officials have declined to comment on reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu committed to avoiding operations in Beirut during the ceasefire period between Iran and the United States. Still, no such strikes have occurred since the ceasefire took effect.

An Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post, “If we identify a threat to soldiers or civilians, we will act. There is no ceasefire with Hezbollah.”

Lebanon’s President, Joseph Aoun, said Monday that he hopes the meeting will lead to a ceasefire in Lebanon and open the door to direct negotiations between the two countries.

“A solution can be reached – but not unilaterally. Israel must respond to Lebanon’s call and that of the international community and halt its attacks,” he said.

Russian FM to Iran: Fighting must not resume, Russia ready to assist in any way necessary

Author: Published: April 14, 2026

Sergey Lavrov, the foreign minister of Russia, spoke overnight with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, amid concerns over a potential renewal of fighting between the United States and Israel and Iran.

Lavrov said that “the fighting must not resume” and added that Russia is ready to assist in any way necessary.

Newer Posts Older Posts