Iran says no date set for next US peace talks pending framework agreement

Iran's deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said today at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey that no date has been set for the next round of Iran-US peace talks brokered by Pakistan because they haven't agreed on a framework yet. "Until we agree on the framework, we cannot set a date," he told journalists, adding Iran remains committed to diplomacy but won't enter talks destined to fail.

The talks follow failed initial rounds after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, killing its supreme leader and triggering a regional war. Khatibzadeh said Iran is facilitating safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz during the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, provided prior coordination with Iranian maritime authorities, but accused Washington of trying to "sabotage" these efforts.

Egypt's foreign minister said at the same forum that Egypt and Pakistan are working "very hard" as mediators to reach a final agreement "in the coming days," noting global suffering from the war's continuation. The conflict has already caused significant casualties, including at least 112 dead and 837 wounded in Israeli strikes on Beirut's Tallet al-Khayyat neighbourhood on April 8.

Given Nigeria's dependence on oil exports and vulnerability to global price shocks, should you consider how prolonged Middle East tensions might affect fuel costs, import prices, or foreign exchange stability in the coming months?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/04/18/no-date-set-for-next-round-of-iran-us-talks-iran-deputy-fm/