Iran has indicated it is not planning to take part in upcoming negotiations with the United States, according to state media, as tensions escalate ahead of the expiry of a fragile Middle East ceasefire.
The development comes after US President Donald Trump ordered American negotiators to travel to Pakistan for talks scheduled to begin on Monday.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB cited officials as saying there are “currently no plans” to participate in the next round of discussions. News agencies including Fars and Tasnim reported that the atmosphere for negotiations remains unfavourable, with Tehran insisting that the lifting of a US naval blockade on its ports is a key precondition.
The blockade has become a major point of contention, particularly after a US destroyer intercepted and seized an Iranian-flagged vessel over the weekend. President Trump said the ship had attempted to breach the blockade and was stopped by force, with US Marines taking control of the vessel.
Tehran has condemned the incident, describing it as an act of “armed piracy”, and warned of retaliation. Iranian media reported that drones had been deployed in the direction of US military ships following the seizure.
The standoff comes days before the expiration of a two-week ceasefire involving Iran, the United States and Israel, which temporarily halted hostilities triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.
Efforts to reach a diplomatic resolution have so far yielded little progress. A single round of talks held in Islamabad on April 11 ended without agreement, although preliminary engagements have continued behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, tensions have intensified in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Iran briefly reopened the passage following a ceasefire involving Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, but shut it again after the US maintained its blockade.
Iranian officials have warned that any unauthorised vessels attempting to pass through the strait could be targeted, raising concerns over global energy supplies and economic stability.
Washington has defended its actions as part of efforts to pressure Tehran, while also calling for a renewed deal. However, key disagreements remain, including over Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, which both sides dispute in terms of control and future handling.
With positions hardening and military posturing increasing, prospects for meaningful negotiations appear uncertain as the ceasefire deadline approaches.