Iran Refuses US Peace Talks Amid Escalating Tensions Over Naval Blockade
Iran has announced it will not send negotiators to Pakistan for scheduled peace talks with the United States, citing violations of their ceasefire agreement. The announcement came after the US Navy seized an Iranian container ship attempting to bypass a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran Backs Out of Scheduled Talks
Iran has said it will not be sending negotiators to Pakistan for talks with the US, amid rising tensions. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday Washington had "violated the ceasefire from the beginning of its implementation", citing the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz since April 13 and the overnight capture of an Iranian container ship as breaches.
US Naval Actions Spark Dispute
The US Navy fired on and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that tried to bypass the US naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman, according to President Donald Trump, marking the latest escalation in tensions over the region's waterways. In a post on X, Iranian spokesman Baghaei described the US naval blockade as "unlawful and criminal" and saying it amounted to "war crime and crime against humanity".
Pakistan Mediates Between Superpowers
Pakistani officials said they remain cautiously hopeful that they can bring the two sides back to the negotiating table, with Foreign Ministers from both countries discussing "the need for continued dialogue and engagement" by phone on Sunday. The developments came hours after Trump announced that US representatives are traveling to Islamabad for negotiations, though Iranian sources told CNN a delegation will still arrive in Pakistan on Tuesday.