Tara Kangarlou

The ceasefire deadline between the United States and Iran is quickly approaching.

There's no official end time which has been confirmed.

The timing two weeks ago meant that it should end at 1am on Wednesday and we know the US Vice President J.D.

Vance is reported to be flying to Islamabad at the head of the US diplomatic delegation today if Iran agrees to further talks in the Pakistani capital as that deadline looms.

So with the clock ticking, is there

Today, Tehran and Washington's last chance to avoid further escalation.

Well, I'm joined by Tara Kangaloo, who's global affairs journalist and author of The Heartbeat of Iran, and Cormac McGarry, who's director for Maritime Security Services at Control Risks.

So, Tara, the latest we see is that J.D.

Vance is expected to travel, but we don't know at this stage whether Iranians will be there to meet him or to meet the U.S.

delegation.

What is the latest on these talks?

The blockade it's reported is costing 500 million a day for Iran.

Now, I don't have confirmation of that figure.

That may be a U.S.

figure to show what they wield over the Iranians.

But I see the London Times reporting this morning that

that Iran is believed to have given the green light to negotiations after all of this confusion, Tara.

But the problem in Iran is that there are hardliners now who are putting real pressure on the leadership to continue with the conflict and not to engage in diplomacy.

Tara, thank you very much for that update.

And we come now to Cormac McGarry from Maritime Security Services at Control Risks.