A ceasefire is just the beginning, and the Administration should use these two weeks wisely and to pursue a comprehensive diplomatic agreement. That means engaging in serious, structured negotiations with Iran to address nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, proxy activity, sanctions relief, and security guarantees, conducted by diplomats with genuine expertise, not improvisers.
The Administration should use the two-week ceasefire to pursue a comprehensive diplomatic agreement with Iran that addresses nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, proxy activity, sanctions relief, and security guarantees, through structured negotiations conducted by qualified diplomats.
Occurrences
The Administration should use this time wisely and immediately return to negotiating a diplomatic agreement. That means engaging in serious, structured conversations with Iran to address nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, proxy activity, sanctions relief, and security guarantees.
Evidence
I welcome this ceasefire, but President Trump should not have started this war in the first place. After weeks of escalating violence and reckless threats by the president—including claims that he would bomb Iran 'back to the Stone Age' and that 'a whole civilization will die'—a pause in this war is positive. No one should claim the President’s words aren’t dangerous; this chaos and the ensuing economic and national security damage are his and his alone. I remain deeply skeptical of President Trump’s self-proclaimed 'wins' from this war, and I have concerns about the long-term problems he has created. A ceasefire is just the beginning, and the Administration should use these two weeks wisely and to pursue a comprehensive diplomatic agreement. That means engaging in serious, structured negotiations with Iran to address nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, proxy activity, sanctions relief, and security guarantees, conducted by diplomats with genuine expertise, not improvisers. As many experts have long warned, military strikes buy time, but only a comprehensive agreement solves the problem.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said negotiations between the United States and Iran ended early Sunday without a peace deal after the Iranians refused to accept American terms to not develop ... . The high-stakes talks in Pakistan ... . 'But the simple fact is that we ... ,' Vance told reporters.
At around 6:30 am at the Serena Hotel in the Pakistani capital, US Vice President JD Vance told the press, visibly drawn, that the US and Iran had failed to reach a deal. His ... . Vance, the head of the ... 'They chosen not to accept our ... ,' Vance said, in a ... .
The United States and Iran will hold high-level nuclear talks on Saturday, seven years after Trump pulled out of a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program. Trump and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi separately confirmed the talks. Trump called them 'direct,' while Araghchi said that the discussions in Oman will be indirect; three unnamed Iranian officials told the New York Times that Tehran could be open to direct talks if the meetings are productive. Araghchi and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will participate, Araghchi told Iranian state media.
In a 20-minute speech on April 1, President Donald Trump referred to nuclear weapons over 20 times. The speech opened with an overview of the risks of a nuclear Iran as justification for the war and outlined progress in setting back the program: 'For years, everyone has said that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. But in the end, those are just words. If you’re not willing to take action when the time comes.' By relying on the nuclear justification for the war, however, Trump may have painted himself into a corner because now, the end of the war must also have a nuclear solution. The nuclear issue is likely to determine not only when the war ends, but also how it ends, and who can claim 'victory.'
In April 2026, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s Parliament speaker and former Revolutionary Guard commander, emerged as the central figure in Iran’s negotiations with the U.S., aiming to end ongoing hostilities. Ghalibaf led a delegation to Islamabad, including top officials such as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati. He imposed preconditions for talks, notably a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's frozen assets, following a deadly Israeli strike that had violated a recently declared truce.
Iran and the United States are set to begin a third round of nuclear negotiations in Switzerland, with both sides maintaining their preference for a diplomatic solution, even as Washington imposed sweeping new sanctions and continues to build up its military presence in the Middle East. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in the Swiss city of Geneva on Wednesday and met his Omani counterpart, Badr Albusaidi, who is facilitating the indirect talks scheduled for Thursday.
Iran’s president has announced that he has instructed diplomats to seek talks with the United States, as tensions around the threat of a military confrontation appear to ease. President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on social media on Tuesday that he has instructed the country’s foreign minister to 'pursue fair and equitable negotiations'.
A ceasefire is just the beginning, and the Administration should use these two weeks wisely and to pursue a comprehensive diplomatic agreement. That means engaging in serious, structured negotiations with Iran to address nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, proxy activity, sanctions relief, and security guarantees, conducted by diplomats with genuine expertise, not improvisers.
Iran has now agreed to a ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz as the Trump Administration negotiates a broader peace agreement.
President Trump highlighted America’s powerful negotiating position with Iran: “What I think is that we’re going to end up with a great deal. I think they have no choice… We’re in a very strong negotiating position..."
"A ceasefire is just the beginning, and the Administration should use these two weeks wisely and to pursue a comprehensive diplomatic agreement. That means engaging in serious, structured negotiations with Iran to address nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, proxy activity, sanctions relief, and security guarantees, conducted by diplomats with genuine expertise, not improvisers."
"Iran has now agreed to a ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz as the Trump Administration negotiates a broader peace agreement" and "As the Trump Administration enters this next phase of negotiations".
Assessments
Sen. Reed publicly urged the Administration to use the two-week ceasefire to pursue a comprehensive, structured diplomatic agreement (evidence: Reed statement, Apr 8, 2026). The Administration did engage in high-level talks and ongoing negotiations (White House statements, Swiss/Oman/Islamabad meetings), but reporting indicates those talks did not produce the comprehensive agreement Reed described and at least one series of negotiations ended without a deal (AP, Le Monde, White House releases). Because no comprehensive diplomatic agreement covering nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, proxy activity, sanctions relief, and security guarantees was reached during the ceasefire window, the claimed outcome was not delivered. Reed’s role was advocacy rather than a substantive legislative or executive effort to produce the agreement, so effort_badge is false.
Reed clearly advocated using the two-week ceasefire for comprehensive, structured diplomacy with Iran, but the promised substantive outcome was a completed comprehensive diplomatic agreement covering nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, proxy activity, sanctions relief, and security guarantees. The evidence shows negotiations occurred but remained prospective or failed, including reports after the ceasefire window that no deal had been reached. Reed’s statement supports advocacy, not delivery, and there is no evidence he sponsored, wrote, or materially advanced an instrument that produced the agreement.
Despite efforts, including high-level and marathon diplomatic negotiations during the two-week ceasefire, the US and Iran failed to reach a comprehensive diplomatic agreement addressing the specified issues. While Jack Reed urged the administration to pursue such structured negotiations and the administration attempted talks, no agreement was achieved as Iran rejected US terms. Evidence demonstrates meaningful executive and diplomatic attempts but ultimate non-delivery of the promised outcome.