Vice President JD Vance was recalled to the White House on Tuesday, delaying his planned trip to lead U.S. negotiations with Iran in Islamabad as uncertainty clouds whether Tehran will participate in the talks.
Vance was expected to depart for Pakistan’s capital to head American negotiating efforts, but officials summoned him back amid questions over Iran’s commitment to the discussions. The two-week ceasefire between the U.S., Israel, and Iran is set to expire Wednesday, raising pressure on diplomats to broker a deal.
What Happened
CNN reported that Vance will attend policy meetings at the White House instead of boarding a plane Tuesday morning for Islamabad. “We don’t know if this trip is definitely off,” CNN’s Alayna Treene said. “All we do know is that it is definitely delayed and that we should expect to see now the vice president at the White House for meetings today.”
Vance cited Iran’s refusal to commit to abandoning nuclear weapons development as a reason for the negotiating setback. “The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement,” Vance said. “And I think that’s bad news for Iran, much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America.”
Pakistan’s government said it had not yet received formal confirmation from Iranian officials about attending the Islamabad talks. Pakistani mediators remained in “constant touch” with Tehran, Pakistani Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, describing the negotiations as “critical.”
The Blockade and Military Posture
The U.S. military has escalated pressure on Iran by blocking maritime traffic near its ports. U.S. Central Command reported that American forces ordered 28 ships to turn around or return to port on Tuesday.
A U.S. official declined to confirm whether any vessels had reached Iranian ports but said any that did would face obstacles leaving the Gulf of Oman. The blockade represents a significant tightening of economic pressure on the Iranian government.
The Diplomatic Challenge
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized the U.S. negotiating position on social media, writing that American understanding of Iran’s position was inadequate. His comments suggested deepening skepticism within Tehran’s leadership about the talks’ direction.
U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker met with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday to discuss ongoing diplomatic efforts. Pakistan has led mediation attempts for weeks, with Dar urging both sides to extend the ceasefire and pursue dialogue.
President Trump indicated he opposed extending the temporary ceasefire beyond Wednesday, instead pressing for a permanent agreement. “We don’t have that much time,” Trump told CNBC. “Iran can get themselves on a very good footing if they make a deal.”
This story has been updated. CNN’s Alayna Treene contributed to this report.
