Iran has agreed to continue talks with the US - Axios. Oil falls
A second round of talks is already scheduled for April 22 in Islamabad, CNN's interlocutors say
Photo: Seree Tansrisawat / Shutterstock
The Iranian delegation has received permission from Iran's supreme leader to continue dialog with the United States and participate in the peace talks in Islamabad, Axios reported, citing a source familiar with the situation. The previous day, Reuters quoted an unnamed official as saying that Iran was "positively considering" the possibility of its participation in the meeting with Washington representatives, but no decision had been made yet.
Details
The cease-fire agreement between the U.S. and Iran is in effect until Wednesday, April 22. A second round of talks is scheduled for the same day, April 22, unnamed officials told CNN, in Pakistan's Islamabad. However, the situation remains volatile due to harsh rhetoric from both the U.S. and Iran, they noted.
The Axios interlocutor indicates that the Iranian side may be delaying the talks amid pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the negotiators: Iran's Foreign Ministry on April 21 called for the release of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship and crew that was seized by the US near the Strait of Hormuz on April 19; and the IRGC said it would refuse any negotiations with the US until the US blockade of Iranian ships and ports ends.The Iranian delegation was waiting for permission to continue its participation in the talks from Iran's supreme leader - and according to an Axios source, it came on Monday evening, April 20.
What's in the markets
Brent crude oil is declining amid reports of upcoming peace talks: contracts with delivery in June are losing 0.75% against the previous close at $94.76 per barrel. North American WTI futures are also falling by 1.32% - trading at $88.43.
Stocks in Asia are mostly rising, with South Korea's Kospi hitting a record high on April 21, adding 2.72% for the day and recouping losses it has suffered since the start of the war in the Middle East, CNBC notes. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.89%.
In Europe, stock indices on April 21 also mostly opened in a slight plus: the pan-European Stoxx 600 is growing by a symbolic 0.06%. German Dax adds 0.52%, British FTSE 100 - 0.07%, French CAC 40 falls by 0.08%.
This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor
