Washington/Islamabad, April 17, 2026 - President Donald Trump has signaled fresh progress in the high-stakes negotiations with Iran, stating that a deal to end the conflict is "mostly complete" and that a second round of talks could take place as early as this weekend.
In recent interviews and public remarks, Trump expressed optimism that the United States and Iran are moving closer to a framework agreement. He highlighted Iran's recent decision to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping as a positive development and praised Pakistan's mediation role.
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"If a deal is signed in Islamabad, I might go," Trump said, adding that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir have been "great" in facilitating the dialogue. He also claimed that Iran has agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely as part of the emerging understanding.
The comments come after the first round of direct talks in Islamabad ended in deadlock but left the door open for further negotiations. The current fragile two-week ceasefire, brokered with Pakistani help, is set to expire around April 22. Iran's reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has already eased some pressure on global shipping and oil markets, with tanker traffic gradually returning to the critical waterway.
While Trump sounded upbeat, U.S. officials have cautioned that significant gaps remain, particularly on verification mechanisms for Iran's nuclear commitments and the future of the U.S. naval blockade targeting Iranian ports. Iranian sources have pushed back on some of Trump's claims, saying certain issues, including enriched uranium, are still under discussion.
Analysts view the latest signals as part of a carefully managed de-escalation process. Pakistan continues to play a central mediating role, with Prime Minister Sharif's ongoing Middle East tour aimed at building broader regional support for a lasting agreement.
Global markets reacted positively to the news, with oil prices easing slightly and Asian stocks extending gains on hopes of reduced geopolitical risk. However, caution remains high as any breakdown could quickly reverse recent goodwill gestures, including Iran's reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
