“The door is not closed”: Mediators rush to revive U.S.-Iran talks

(Barak Ravid – Axios) Pakistani, Egyptian and Turkish mediators will continue talks with the U.S. and Iran in the coming days in an effort to bridge the remaining gaps and reach a deal to end the war, according to a regional source and a U.S. official. All parties still believe a deal is possible. The mediators hope that narrowing the gaps could enable another round of negotiations before the ceasefire expires on April 21. President Trump is considering resuming strikes if a U.S. naval blockade doesn’t make Iran change course, sources said. Targets could include infrastructure he threatened to attack before the ceasefire was announced. The blockade, like the U.S. decision to walk away from the talks in Pakistan, is part of the ongoing negotiations, a U.S. official said. The official claimed Trump wants to prevent Iran from using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in the talks. – Mediators rush to revive U.S.-Iran nuclear talks before ceasefire expires