As the U.S.-Iran ceasefire deadline looms, here are the main sticking points

A member of Pakistani security personnel looks over a checkpoint from a police booth amid heightened security ahead of a potential meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials on April 20, 2026 in Islamabad, Pakistan.

The status of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear enrichment program are among the biggest obstacles to extending the truce, which expires Wednesday evening.

(Image credit: Rebecca Conway)