Good evening once again.

I am Stephanie Ruhl and welcome to the midweek nightcap.

Look around.

I'm coming to you live from Washington, D.C.

And it is day 47 of President Trump's war on Iran.

Today, two senior Pakistani officials told MS now that the second round of peace talks between the United States on Iran will likely happen next week, but no date has officially been set.

Both sides are reportedly weighing a two-week extension of the ceasefire, which is set to expire April 21st.

However, an Iranian military commander told a state-run outlet that the

ongoing naval blockade of the country's ports was a precursor of violation of that ceasefire.

He also vowed straight retaliation if it continued to create, quote, insecurity for Iranian

commercial vessels and oil tankers. According to U.S. Central Command, yesterday in Iranian cargo vessel tried to evade the

blockade and was successfully redirected by a U.S. guided missile destroyer.

Since Monday, they said 10 separate ships have been turned around and zero ships have passed

through at all.

Meanwhile, thousands of American forces will be arriving in the region in the coming days

after being ordered to travel there just a few weeks ago.

We got a lot to cover.

So let's bring in our nightcap.

And because I'm in the District of Columbia, you are getting an awesome group.

Peter Baker is here, Chief White House correspondent

for The New York Times. Mark Short joins us, former White House Legislative Affairs Director

during Trump's first administration. Now he is board chairman for advancing American freedom.

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