JD Vance's trip to Islamabad for Iran negotiations on hold

US Vice President JD Vance's planned trip to Islamabad, where he was expected to lead talks with Iran about a nuclear deal to end the war, was put on hold on Tuesday after Tehran failed to respond about its participation, according to two people familiar with the matter, Report informs via The Guardian.

The US vice-president was scheduled to depart on Tuesday morning for a second round of negotiations on Wednesday, the final day of a fragile two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

But Iran had not confirmed it would participate as Vance's departure time crept closer. Without an Iranian response, the diplomatic process was effectively in limbo, and the White House would not send Vance unless there was a definitive plan for a meeting with the Iranians, the people said.

The trip has not been canceled and Vance could travel immediately should Iran respond, the people said. On Tuesday afternoon, Vance was seen arriving at the White House for emergency meetings, which Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, was also set to attend.

The delay marks the latest hurdle in the Trump administration's effort to secure a nuclear deal with Iran – and every hour Vance remains in Washington threatens to plunge the US and Iran back into a conflict upon the expiration of the ceasefire.

Donald Trump has told advisers in recent days he would not extend the ceasefire until Iran reopened the strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials, for their part, have said they are unwilling to engage in new talks until the US ended a blockade of their ports.