Security in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad was stepped up visibly on Sunday (April 20, 2026)ahead of peace talks between the United States and Iran in the coming days.

President Donald Trump said U.S. negotiators will be in Pakistan on Monday (April 21, 2026) to resume talks on ending the war with Iran, little more than a week after face-to-face talks in Islamabad on April 11 ended without agreement.

The Strait of Hormuz remained closed on Sunday (April 19, 2026) in the stand-off between Iran and the United States, with Iran’s powerful Speaker of Parliament signalling a final peace deal was “far” off despite movement in negotiations.

As mediation efforts continued following high-level talks in Pakistan that failed to reach a deal, Iran said it would not reopen the crucial maritime trade route until the United States ended its blockade of Iranian ports.