<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The ceasefire in the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/iran" rel="" target="" title="Iran"><span>Iran</span></a><span> war hangs in the balance as </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/pakistan" rel="" target="" title="Pakistan"><span>Pakistan</span></a><span>'s capital stands prepared for possible new talks between Tehran and Washington.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The two-week ceasefire was set to expire at 0000 GMT Wednesday (10am AEST). </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Neither the US nor Iran have publicly confirmed timing of any new talks or plans to extend the ceasefire, but sudden changes have been the norm in the lead-up to past rounds of talks.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-us-and-iran-signal-new-ceasefire-talks-in-islamabad-as-truce-nears-end/463f40c6-67c2-4718-b8c6-378a4a32eb6e" rel="" target="" title="US and Iran signal new ceasefire talks in Islamabad as truce nears end"><strong><span>US and Iran signal new ceasefire talks in Islamabad as truce nears end</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Here's what to know about where the ceasefire stands, the possible talks in Pakistan and other issues surrounding the war:</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>Talks floated for Wednesday</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two regional officials told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the United States and Iran have signalled they will hold a new round of talks. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-what-to-know-as-ceasefire-hangs-in-the-balance/3c7f9215-1c1b-44aa-8e64-17ce03838808" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pakistan-led mediators received confirmation that top negotiators, US Vice President JD Vance and Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, are expected to arrive in Islamabad early on Wednesday to lead their teams, the officials told The Associated Press.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As of Tuesday evening, Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Iran had not formally confirmed it would participate in more talks, noting the looming deadline.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"An Iranian decision to attend the talks before the end of the two-week ceasefire is critical," he said in a post on X.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The White House said Vance was still in Washington, and gave no word on whether he would be traveling to Pakistan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Serious challenges face any upcoming talks, about the future of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's nuclear program and other issues. Meanwhile, Iran targeted ships in the strait over the weekend. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The US also attacked and boarded one Iranian vessel that tried to outrun the American naval blockade in the strait – signalling that the situation remains volatile and a resumption of the war isn't out of the question.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>A fragile ceasefire risks showing cracks</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The current truce between Iran, Israel and the United States began April 8 after multiple deadlines posed by US President Donald Trump that threatened Iran's very "civilisation" at one point.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Iranian attacks targeted Gulf Arab states and Israel after it had started. Another mysterious attack struck an Iranian oil refinery on an island as well that afternoon. However, the ceasefire has broadly held.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An earlier round of negotiations between Iran and the US was held in Pakistan from April 11 into the early morning the following day. Vance took part in the highest-level talks between America and Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which ended without an agreement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Since this weekend, authorities in Islamabad have made preparations similar to those that accompanied the first talks, suggesting another round loomed. The White House has said that Vance would be returning to Islamabad for a new round of talks in the coming days with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>Strait of Hormuz remains effectively shut</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20 per cent of all natural gas and oil passes, remains effectively closed over Iranian attacks in the waterway. That included some attacks Saturday. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There's also a fear that Iran mined a portion of the strait used by transiting ships during peacetime. Since the war, Iran reportedly has been charging as much as $US2 million ($2.8 million) a vessel to allow them to pass.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Opening the strait remains a key focus of negotiations and Tehran's strongest leverage against Washington, particularly as countries around the world have begun rationing energy and warning of shortages of jet fuel. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The United States, meanwhile, has begun blocking ships from Iranian ports. The US Navy attacked an Iranian container ship that tried to run through the US blockade this weekend, with Marines rappelling onto it from helicopters.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>Iran's nuclear stockpile remains in country</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>All of Iran's highly enriched uranium remains in the country, likely entombed at enrichment sites bombed by the US during a 12-day war last June. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Iran hasn't enriched since then but maintains it has the right to do so for peaceful purposes and denies seeking nuclear weapons. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump, along with Israel, has called for Iran to completely dismantle its nuclear program and give up its stockpile. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Iran rejected that in its 10-point proposal for ending the war.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>