With U.S.-Iran ceasefire expiring in a week, diplomats lay groundwork for new talks

[0:00] Welcome to the NewsHour. International mediators tonight are pushing for new peace talks between [0:05] the U.S. and Iran, and they're seeking to extend the ceasefire that's set to expire next week. [0:11] But nothing is set in stone, and the sides remain far apart on issues like the fate of [0:16] Iran's nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz. White House correspondent Liz Landers has been [0:21] tracking it all and starts our coverage. The waters remain quiet through the Strait of [0:27] Hormuz. The U.S. military says its naval blockade of Iran's ports is, quote, fully implemented as [0:33] it approaches its third full day. But with the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran expiring in [0:39] less than a week, beneath the surface and behind the scenes, there's been a flurry of diplomatic [0:44] conversations. Regional leaders like Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said efforts were [0:50] underway to restart talks between the U.S. and Iran and to buy more time. [0:55] We are making the necessary suggestions and attempts to reduce tensions, extend the ceasefire [1:01] and continue the negotiations. More regional officials say they're making progress on both [1:06] fronts after last weekend's failed talks, including that the U.S. and Iran have agreed [1:11] in principle on extending the ceasefire. Publicly, however, U.S. and Iranian officials say they've [1:17] not formally agreed to anything and that engagement continues. White House Press Secretary Caroline [1:23] Levitt today. That these conversations are productive and ongoing, and that's where we [1:28] are right now. I've also seen some reporting about the potentiality for in-person discussions. [1:32] Again, those discussions are being had, but nothing is official until you hear it from us here at the [1:37] White House. In Iran today, Pakistani military leaders arrived as mediators to discuss plans for [1:43] a new round of talks. And Pakistani Prime Minister Shabazz Sharif, who hosted the last round of talks and is [1:50] considered a top intermediary, visits Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey through Saturday. [1:57] President Trump has suggested that talks could be imminent, and in an interview this morning on Fox [2:02] Business, he said once again that so could the end of the war itself. [2:06] Well, you keep saying was. Is this war over? [2:10] I think it's close to over, yeah. I mean, I view it as very close to over. [2:13] But on the biggest sticking point in the talks, any nuclear threat coming from Iran, [2:18] the president implied a more open-ended mission, and again threatened Iran's civilian infrastructure. [2:24] If they're going to have a nuclear weapon, we'll be living with them for a little while, [2:28] but I don't know how much longer they can survive. As an example, we could take out every one of their [2:34] bridges in one hour. We could take out every one of their power plants, electric power plants, [2:40] in one hour. We don't want to do that. [2:44] But many experts say Iran was nowhere near a nuclear weapon. [2:47] While visiting Asia today, Rafael Grossi, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, [2:53] said Iran's nuclear activities are a reality that must be monitored. [2:57] Iran has a very ambitious, wide nuclear program, so all of that will require the presence of [3:07] IAEA inspectors. Otherwise, you will not have an agreement. You will have an illusion of an agreement. [3:15] At an event with young conservatives last night, Vice President J.D. Vance said that the U.S. [3:19] wouldn't settle for a small deal with Iran. [3:22] Right now, the ceasefire is holding, and what you're seeing is what the president wants to make, [3:29] he doesn't want to make like a small deal. He wants to make the grand bargain. [3:33] But Vance was also heckled in the same event by members of the audience who clearly oppose the wars in the Middle East. [3:38] I certainly think the answer is yes, and I agree. Jesus Christ does not, I agree. Jesus Christ certainly does not support genocide. [3:48] Whoever yelled that out from the dark, he certainly does not. [3:51] Vance would acknowledge their concerns. [3:53] I recognize that a lot of young voters don't love the policy that we have in the Middle East. Okay, I understand that. [4:02] Today, in a test of Congress' appetite for prolonging the Iran conflict. [4:07] The motion is not agreed to. [4:10] Senate Republicans stood behind President Trump and struck down another Democratic-driven war powers effort to block his ability to launch further strikes. [4:19] The Treasury Secretary today suggested the U.S. could strike Iran in a different way, economically. [4:25] The Iranians should know that this is going to be the financial equivalent of what we saw in the kinetic activities. [4:32] Regardless of political leanings, almost all Americans are feeling the pain at the gas pump as the result of the war. [4:39] Average prices remain above $4 a gallon. [4:42] The Treasury Secretary telling Americans this tax day. [4:45] The message is the short-term volatility for long-term gain. [4:51] That optimism will be roundly challenged in the waters of the Gulf as the White House navigates a tense and narrow strait. [4:58] For the PBS NewsHour, I'm Liz Landers.