The United States is preparing to deploy Vice President JD Vance to Pakistan for critical ceasefire negotiations with Iran even as President Donald Trump signaled military action may be imminent and the Pentagon requested more than $30 billion for depleted munitions stockpiles. Two regional officials confirmed to The Associated Press that Pakistan-led mediators received confirmation that top negotiators will arrive in Islamabad early Wednesday, just as a fragile two-week truce is set to expire.
Trump's Hardline Stance
President Trump delivered stark warnings about the prospects for extending the ceasefire in multiple media appearances Tuesday. "Well, I expect to be bombing because I think that's a better attitude to go in with," Trump told CNBC Tuesday morning, adding, "But, you know, we're ready to go. I mean, the military is raring to go." In a separate CNBC interview, when asked if he would continue the ceasefire if there is progress in the next round of Iran talks, Trump said, "Well, I don't want to do that. We don't have that much time." He told Bloomberg News on Monday that he was "highly unlikely" to renew the ceasefire set to expire Wednesday, stating Iran "had a choice" and "they have to negotiate."
Iran's chief negotiator and parliament speaker, Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, responded on X early Tuesday, writing, "We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats," and said the Islamic Republic has been preparing "to reveal new cards on the battlefield." Iranian state television issued an on-screen alert saying that "no delegation from Iran has visited Islamabad ... so far" and that no official had acknowledged that a delegation would be heading to the Pakistani capital.
Defense Spending Surge
The Pentagon said Tuesday it wants to spend more than $30 billion to buy critical munitions, including missile interceptors, whose stockpiles have become critically low during the Iran war. The supplies under the most strain are the Patriot air defense systems and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, interceptors. The $30 billion budget item will also purchase long-range Precision Strike Missiles and Mid-Range Capability missile systems used by the U.S. Army.
The Pentagon's $1.5 trillion budget proposal would also allocate nearly $54 billion for military drones and related technology, as well as $21 billion for weapons systems designed to take down enemy drones. Jules Hurst III, the acting undersecretary of defense, comptroller, said, "Drone warfare is rapidly reshaping the modern battlefield," and, "This budget is the largest investment in drone warfare and counter-drone technology in U.S. history."
Regional Diplomatic Pressure
Pakistani authorities have begun tightening security in the capital, with thousands of security personnel deployed across Islamabad and patrols increased along routes leading to the airport. Security arrangements appear stricter than those put in place during the first round of talks held in the capital on April 11 and 12, following diplomatic efforts by Pakistan and regional countries, including China, to ease tensions in the region.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Natalie Baker on Tuesday and urged that Washington and Iran extend the ceasefire and pursue diplomacy, the Foreign Ministry said. Baker conveyed Washington's appreciation for Pakistan's constructive role in supporting regional peace and facilitating dialogue, the statement said. Dar also spoke Tuesday with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, to discuss the latest regional developments, and both leaders emphasized the importance of dialogue and engagement for peace and stability.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said, "we are now urgently calling on Iran to come to Islamabad and engage in constructive negotiations with the United States." He said U.S. Vice President JD Vance is ready to travel to Pakistan and that "Iran should now take this outstretched hand in the interest of its own people."
Economic and Energy Consequences
The conflict has triggered what U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called "the most severe energy crisis in a generation," and U.N. climate chief Simon Stiell said "Fossil fuel driven stagflation is now stalking economies, driving up prices, driving down growth, pushing budgets deeper into the quagmire of debt and stripping away governments' policy options and autonomy." China's Xi Jinping called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz Monday.
Fighting since the war started has killed at least 3,375 people in Iran and more than 2,290 in Lebanon, the AP said. It said 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states, while 15 Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.
Gaza Disarmament Talks
The Board of Peace's lead envoy for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, told Reuters that he was "fairly optimistic" a plan for disarmament of Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza can be agreed, but cautioned that it will still take time. "We've had some very serious discussions with Hamas over the last few weeks, they're not easy," Mladenov said in an interview during a visit to Brussels. He said work was underway on an implementation plan that would include disarmament, new governance in Gaza and provisions for an Israeli withdrawal.
Asked when an agreement could be reached, he said, "We have a matter of days, maximum a couple of weeks, that is my assessment, because otherwise we will lose the momentum of what we have, and then every decision will become even more difficult." Trump proposed the Board of Peace in September to oversee his plan to end Israel's war in Gaza, later saying it would tackle other conflicts. Trump's Gaza plan, to which Israel and Hamas agreed in October, sees Israeli troops withdrawing from Gaza and reconstruction starting as Hamas lays down its weapons.
Mladenov said, "All the monies that were committed in Washington are there for the Board of Peace," and, "We don't have any financial issues related to the work of the Board of Peace." Trump in February said U.S. allies had contributed over $7 billion to relief efforts in Gaza and the U.S. would contribute $10 billion to the Board of Peace. He said member states can earn permanent membership of the board by paying $1 billion.
Why This Matters:
The collapse of ceasefire talks would force the United States to resume military operations at a moment when critical munitions stockpiles are already depleted, requiring an unprecedented $30 billion emergency appropriation for missile defense systems and precision weapons. The Pentagon's request underscores the fiscal burden of sustained military engagement in the Middle East, with the broader defense budget reaching $1.5 trillion including massive investments in drone warfare technology. The energy crisis triggered by the conflict continues to impose severe economic costs on American consumers and businesses through higher fuel prices and supply chain disruptions, while the closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens global oil markets. Iran's apparent internal divisions over negotiations present a diplomatic opportunity that may close if hardliners prevail, potentially locking the United States into an extended and costly military campaign. The success or failure of Hamas disarmament talks in Gaza will determine whether the Board of Peace model—funded substantially by U.S. taxpayers and allies—can deliver tangible security results or becomes another expensive multilateral commitment without clear returns.