WASHINGTON, April 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President JD Vance, expected to travel to Pakistan for fresh talks with Iran on Tuesday, was still in Washington, D.C., as of Tuesday at noon, raising doubts over whether a peace deal could be reached between the two sides before the two-week ceasefire expires.
Vance's trip has been put on hold, and he participated in policy meetings at the White House on Tuesday morning, multiple U.S. media outlets reported, citing White House officials.
Without an Iranian response, the diplomatic process is in effect paused, though Vance's trip has not been canceled, according to a report from The New York Times, citing U.S. officials.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told state TV late Tuesday local time that Tehran has not yet decided whether to join fresh peace talks since it was upset by what he called mixed messages from Washington.
"It is not out of indecisiveness, it is because we are facing contradictory messages and behaviors, and unacceptable actions from the American counterpart," Baghaei said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday morning he expects the United States will "end up with a great deal" with Iran to end the weeks-long war and does not anticipate extending the two-week ceasefire.
Asked by CNBC if he will resume strikes on Iran if new talks in Islamabad fail, Trump said: "I expect to be bombing because I think that's a better attitude to go in with."
On Monday, Trump told Bloomberg the ceasefire will expire on Wednesday night. ■
