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Can the US and Iran Agree to a Lasting Deal to End the War?

Billboards near the Serena Hotel ahead of a possible second round of US–Iran talks, in Islamabad, on April 20.Photographer: Anjum Naveed/AP Photo

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By Patrick Sykes

April 22, 2026 at 12:17 PM UTC

After President Donald Trump indefinitely extended a US ceasefire with Iran, the key question is whether the two sides can reach a deal to end a war that has killed thousands of people and sparked a global energy crunch.

Tensions remain high as Iran continues to maintain a tight grip on the Strait of Hormuz, controlling passage through the crucial trade route and firing on ships, and as the US refuses to lift its blockade on Iranian-linked vessels.