Mediators push to extend U.S.-Iran ceasefire : NPR

Key Points:

• Pakistan is mediating a second round of peace talks between the U.S. and Iran to end the nearly seven-week Middle East war, with Pakistani army chief Asim Munir visiting Tehran to facilitate negotiations before the April 22 ceasefire deadline.
• Despite a two-week ceasefire including Lebanon, Israel continues military operations in southern Lebanon, including an airstrike destroying a key bridge, while talks between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun are reportedly planned but remain unconfirmed by Lebanon.
• The U.S.-Iran talks face major obstacles, notably Iran's refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions, while Iran demands an end to Israeli attacks on Hezbollah, release of frozen assets, nuclear program guarantees, and control over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iran's military has threatened to block critical shipping routes in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Red Sea in retaliation for U.S. blockades, with Iranian-aligned militias already disrupting the Bab al Mandeb strait, heightening regional tensions.
• Public opinion in Iran is divided on a ceasefire; some welcome peace efforts, while regime critics fear prolonged conflict will lead to increased repression, reflecting widespread frustration with the drawn-out negotiation process.