Mediators push US-Iran ceasefire extension as deal hopes fade

Mediators push US-Iran ceasefire extension as deal hopes fade Submitted by David Hearst on Sun, 04/19/2026 - 10:28 Sources tell MEE progress made on key issues, but major gaps remain ahead of Wednesday’s deadline A policeman walks past posters highlighting Pakistan's mediation of the Iran–US peace talks in Islamabad on 18 April 2026 (AFP/Farooq Naeem) Off Mediators are seeking to extend the United States - Iran ceasefire, as hopes of reaching an agreement before Wednesday’s deadline faded on Sunday, sources have told Middle East Eye. Senior regional officials said progress had been made in recent days on key issues, including Iran’s enriched uranium, the Strait of Hormuz and the future of Tehran’s allied armed groups across the region. However, the mood shifted over the weekend, according to a senior Turkish official.