U.S. Vice President JD Vance and the American delegation participating in the peace talks with Iran are en route to Pakistan and are expected to arrive within a few hours, President Donald Trump told the New York Post on Monday.

He added that he is willing to meet with senior Iranian officials if progress is made.

At the same time, however, a White House source told CNN that Vance has not yet departed for Islamabad, something expected to happen later in the day.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Fox News, the U.S. President went even further, stating that a deal with Tehran “will be signed today.”

“The talks are supposed to take place,” Trump told the Post, dismissing doubts about a possible collapse of the negotiations. “At this stage, I would assume no one is playing games.”

The U.S. President noted that a high-level American delegation — which includes Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and advisor Jared Kushner — is already on its way to Islamabad for the next round of talks.

“They’re already heading there,” Trump said shortly after 9 a.m. Eastern Time. “They will be there tonight,” he added.

The timeline underscores the urgent nature of the talks, which are taking place just days before the expiration of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, at a time of rising tensions in the region.

Trump left open the possibility of a major diplomatic move, stating that he does not rule out a direct meeting with Iranian leadership if the opportunity arises.

“I have no problem meeting them,” he said. “If they want to meet, we have very capable people — but I have no problem meeting them myself.”

According to Trump, the core and non-negotiable demand at the center of the negotiations is that Iran must abandon any effort to acquire nuclear weapons.“

They have to get rid of their nuclear weapons. It’s very simple,” he declared. “There will be no nuclear weapon,” he said, adding that Iran could prosper if it complies. “Otherwise, it’s a beautiful country — it really could be,” he noted.

However, the President did not specify what consequences Tehran might face if it refuses to comply or if the talks collapse, especially as the ceasefire deadline approaches.“

I don’t want to get into that,” he replied when asked whether the U.S. would escalate measures, for example by seizing additional ships linked to Iran. “You can imagine. It wouldn’t be pretty.”When asked if the U.S. knows who is leading the Iranian side, Trump answered: “We have a pretty good picture and we believe we are talking to the right people.

”Positive but undecided stance from Tehran

A senior Iranian official stated that Tehran is positively considering participation in the peace talks with the United States, but no final decision has been made yet.

According to the official, positive mediation efforts by Pakistan are underway, aimed at ending the American blockade and securing Iran’s participation in the negotiations.

A Pakistani source involved in the talks reminded that the two-month ceasefire expires on April 22 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

Tehran’s main airports resume operationsIran has resumed operations at its main capital airports, Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad, on Monday, the country’s Civil Aviation Authority announced, after they had been closed due to the recent war with the United States and Israel.

“Permission has been granted for passenger flights at Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad Airport,” the Civil Aviation Authority stated, according to the ISNA news agency.

The same announcement added that passenger flights from ten airports across Iran will also be possible starting Saturday.