PANews reported on April 23 that, according to a report by the New York Times cited by Jinshi, Pakistani officials remained optimistic on Wednesday, believing it was still possible to bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table, despite Iran's seizure of two cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz creating a new obstacle to their efforts to broker a long-term peace. Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif met with the Iranian ambassador on Wednesday. A Pakistani official briefed on the talks said a second round of negotiations could be held in the coming days. Former Pakistani ambassadors to the US and UK, Maleha Lodi, who is familiar with the current diplomatic efforts, said: "The ceasefire has opened up space for the resumption of diplomatic channels, and Pakistan believes that space is sufficient. Neither side has rejected negotiations." Another Pakistani official, briefed on the negotiations and requesting anonymity, said that after the ceasefire extension, Pakistani mediators received positive signals from Iran expressing a desire to resume face-to-face negotiations. The official did not elaborate on what these signals were, nor did he say whether Iran had told the Pakistani mediators that the lifting of the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz was a prerequisite for participating in a second round of negotiations.