US and Iran weigh two-week extension to ceasefire

A second round of direct negotiations between the United States and Iran has been postponed, with no meetings scheduled for Friday or Saturday as originally anticipated, shifting any potential encounter to early next week. Sources confirmed to EFE that despite Pakistani mediation efforts, the two sides have yet to agree on a date or venue for resuming dialogue that began in Islamabad last weekend. Pakistan remains the preferred location for the talks, though Geneva is being considered as a technical alternative. As part of ongoing diplomatic efforts, Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir traveled to Tehran on Tuesday to deliver a message from the U.S. administration to Iranian authorities. The mission aims to break the deadlock on critical issues including regional security and Iran's nuclear program. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has launched a regional tour through the Gulf and Turkey, working to secure an agreement before the Strait of Hormuz ceasefire expires on April 22. The original two-week ceasefire announced by President Donald Trump on April 7 has reportedly seen slow progress, with sources noting the parties remain far apart on core issues. The diplomatic push comes amid heightened tensions, with Iran warning it will block all regional trade if the U.S. maintains its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Europe is preparing a post-conflict plan to restore freedom of navigation in the strait through a defensive mission excluding the U.S., according to the Wall Street Journal. The Pentagon has also announced plans to deploy thousands of additional troops to the Middle East in the coming days. Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his security cabinet on Wednesday to discuss a potential ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 2,167 people since March 2.