Another round of US-Iran talks possible: WSJ

Efforts were underway across the region to revive US–Iran negotiations after high-stakes talks in Islamabad concluded without a breakthrough, according to officials familiar with the discussions, reported Wall Street Journal. 

While both Washington and Tehran have publicly struck defiant tones, backchannel diplomacy remains active, with a second round of talks potentially being organised within days.

Regional intermediaries are also working with US counterparts to extend the fragile two-week ceasefire announced earlier in the week, reflecting a shared interest in preventing a renewed escalation.

The Islamabad meeting marked a rare and significant moment, effectively the highest-level direct engagement between US and Iranian leadership since 1979. Despite that progress in format, substantive differences proved too wide to bridge.

Three core issues dominated negotiations. First, the status of the Strait of Hormuz: the US is pushing for a full reopening without restrictions or transit fees, while Iran has floated measures that would include some form of control or compensation.

Second, Iran’s nuclear programme remains a major obstacle, particularly the scale and disposition of its highly enriched uranium stockpile. Tehran has proposed compromises, including maintaining only limited enrichment or reducing its stockpile, but these fell short of US demands.

Third, Iran is seeking the release of roughly $27 billion in frozen overseas revenues, a demand Washington has been unwilling to fully meet without broader concessions.

While no agreement was reached, the continued engagement and push for follow-up talks suggest neither side is ready to abandon diplomacy entirely. However, with the ceasefire window finite and trust limited, markets are increasingly sensitive to the risk of renewed disruption, particularly around energy flows through Hormuz.