Second Round of US-Iran Talks Does Not Start
Introduction
The second round of US-Iran talks in Islamabad did not start. The city is under a security lockdown. A naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz stops ships. Iran''s foreign minister will come to Islamabad on April 22. But the US and Iran did not talk directly yet.
Main Body
The first round of talks happened on April 11. The talks ended without an agreement. On April 13, US President Donald Trump blocked Iranian ports. Iran said it would not talk again until the US stopped the blockade. Iran stopped most ships in the Strait of Hormuz from early March. Then the US took an Iranian ship. Iran took two ships and shot at a third ship. By mid-April, a second round of talks seemed uncertain. On the morning of April 22, Iran''s foreign minister Araghchi called Pakistan''s deputy PM Ishaq Dar. Pakistan said talks are important. Araghchi thanked Pakistan for its help. Iran''s news agency said Araghchi also called Pakistan''s army chief. Pakistan did not say if this was true. Iran said Araghchi''s visit to Islamabad is for bilateral talks. After that, he will go to Moscow and Muscat. A Pakistani official said there is a ''high likelihood of a breakthrough.'' The US did not say if it will send a delegation. Vice President Vance led the first round US delegation. Speaker Ghalibaf led Iran''s delegation. At least nine US planes arrived in Islamabad this week. They carried communications equipment and security people. The blockade and the uncertainty about talks cause big problems in Islamabad. Since April 19, people cannot go to large parts of the city. People cannot use roads to the airbase and the hotel. This is the second lockdown in two weeks. Schools change between in-person and online classes. Courts inside the closed area do not work for over a week. Bus terminals do not work. People cannot travel. Supply chains do not work. Trucks with food cannot enter the city. A fruit seller said produce is spoiling. A café said it does not have strawberries. Journalists came to report the talks. They are waiting. There are no new stories. It is not clear why Iran wants to talk again. Maybe the blockade hurts Iran''s economy. Iran cannot sell oil to Asia. Or maybe there were secret talks. The main problems in the talks are Iran''s nuclear program, US sanctions, and the Strait of Hormuz. As of April 24, ships cannot pass the strait. The city is under lockdown. There is no time for the next talks.
Conclusion
The second round of US-Iran talks in Islamabad did not happen. The city is still under lockdown. People''s daily lives have many problems. The naval blockade of Iran''s ports continues. There is no clear way to solve the problems. The talks are not happening. People''s lives are not normal.