US and Iran in Tense Standoff Over Second-Round Talks Delegations... "Vance Still on Standby"

"U.S. Delegation Awaits Iran's Response"
Iranian Speaker Says "No Talks Under U.S. Threats"

Reuters Yonhap News

As tensions continue between the United States and Iran over the possible second round of talks, it has been reported that U.S. Vice President JD Vance and the negotiation team are still on standby and have not yet departed for Pakistan, the designated venue for the negotiations. The departure is expected to be delayed until Iran provides a definite answer regarding its participation. Iran has yet to confirm whether it will join the second round, sending out mixed signals.

According to The Guardian on the 20th (local time), Vice President Vance is currently waiting in the United States for a definitive response from Iran about attending the talks, rather than heading to Pakistan. Citing officials from the Trump administration, The Guardian reported, "There have been discussions about Vice President Vance leaving the country, but it is expected that he will depart on the morning of the 21st if the talks are confirmed to proceed."

Earlier that day, U.S. President Donald Trump caused some confusion by stating, "Vice President JD Vance is already on his way to Pakistan for negotiations and will arrive soon." Bloomberg News, citing an anonymous White House official, reported that "President Trump's conflicting statements about what could happen if the ceasefire deadline expires are seen as an attempt to create strategic ambiguity that the United States can use in negotiations."

In contrast, Iran has yet to give a definitive answer on whether it will participate in the second round of talks. Reports both supporting and opposing Iran's participation have emerged both inside and outside the country.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, who led the Iranian delegation in the first round of negotiations, posted on the social media platform X on this day, "We will not accept negotiations conducted under the shadow of threats," adding, "They are trying to turn the negotiating table into a table of surrender by imposing blockade measures and violating the ceasefire agreement, or are seeking justification to reignite war," criticizing the United States. He continued, "Over the past two weeks, we have been preparing to play a new card on the battlefield."

On the other hand, there have also been reports that Iran is positively considering sending a negotiation team. The New York Times, citing senior Iranian officials, reported that "Speaker Ghalibaf, who attended the previous talks, will participate again if Vice President Vance from the United States is present," and that "since Iran is geographically closer to Pakistan than the United States, Speaker Ghalibaf will have time to decide whether to board the plane."

Some analysts suggest that the reason Iran has not fully announced its participation is due to internal conflict between moderates and hardliners. Iran International, a dissident media outlet, reported, "Speaker Ghalibaf spent an extended time emphasizing the importance of negotiations with the United States on Iranian state TV last weekend, but hardliners have labeled him a traitor," adding, "Hardliners in Iran believe that the progress in negotiations with the United States should not be viewed with excessive optimism."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.