Published April 26, 2026 — last updated April 26, 2026
No direct talks took place between US and Iranian negotiators in Islamabad. A ceasefire remains in place, but a clear roadmap to lasting peace is elusive. Below are the latest developments.
What you need to know
– Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to return to Pakistan after visiting Oman and is also due to visit Russia.
– Pakistan says it remains committed to mediating between Tehran and Washington.
Key developments
Araghchi meets Oman’s sultan
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Oman and met Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Muscat. The talks covered regional security and the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s foreign ministry said Araghchi thanked Oman for its role in assisting diplomatic efforts. Oman has previously facilitated US‑Iran nuclear talks and continues to call for dialogue. Araghchi urged Gulf states to pursue collective security “free from US intervention.”
Talks stall in Islamabad
Expectations that a second round of talks between the US and Iran would resume in Islamabad were unmet. Araghchi met Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, army chief Asim Munir and other officials, calling his trip “very fruitful” and outlining Iran’s red lines for negotiations. US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were ordered by President Donald Trump not to travel to Pakistan; Trump said there was no point “sitting around talking about nothing,” while adding the ceasefire would continue for now. Trump said the ball was in Tehran’s court and urged Iran to call if it wanted to talk. The first round of Islamabad talks earlier this month, led by US Vice President JD Vance, ended after 21 hours with no breakthrough.
Ceasefire and wider tensions
A fragile ceasefire between Iran and US forces remains in effect and was recently extended, but both sides remain publicly firm on their terms. Uncertainty persists over whether diplomacy can produce a lasting settlement. The conflict has contributed to a global energy shock amid disruptions and a partial blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
Regional and allied moves
– Israel issued warnings to residents of seven towns in southern Lebanon north of the Litani River and vowed to respond to what it called Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire. Sporadic exchanges of fire have continued along the Israel–Lebanon border despite a fragile truce.
– Turkey said it would consider participating in operations to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz if the US reached a peace deal with Iran.
– Germany announced it will dispatch ships to the Mediterranean to prepare for a possible deployment to the Strait of Hormuz.
Human rights and security incidents in Iran
Iran continued a run of executions; state media reported the hanging of a man identified as Amer Ramesh, convicted of membership in the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl and of attacks on security forces. Jaish al-Adl, active in southeastern Sistan‑Baluchestan, is designated a terrorist group by the United States. The region remains one of Iran’s poorest and a site of periodic violence.
Diplomatic choreography
Araghchi left Islamabad for Oman and is expected to return to Pakistan before travelling to Russia. Pakistan has presented itself as a mediator between Tehran and Washington; its capital was the focus of diplomatic activity as mediators tried to revive talks. Oman’s foreign minister and others continue to press for dialogue even as direct US‑Iran contact has been delayed.
Outlook
With both sides sticking to public positions and no face‑to‑face US‑Iran meetings in Islamabad, prospects for a near‑term diplomatic breakthrough look limited. The ceasefire buys time but does not yet provide a framework for a durable settlement. Continued mediation by regional actors such as Pakistan and Oman, and diplomatic engagement with other powers, may set the stage for future talks, but uncertainty remains high and the risk of renewed escalation persists.
Background
The initial Islamabad talks aimed to find terms to end hostilities after the US and Israel declared war on Iran in late February. Those first negotiations produced no agreement. Since then, tenuous ceasefires have been extended intermittently even as regional incidents, military alerts and punitive actions such as executions and border strikes have continued.
Stay tuned for further updates as developments unfold.