The second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad is yet to be confirmed after Tehran officials threatened to refuse participation after an attack on an Iranian vessel by US military forces near the Strait of Hormuz during the weekend. The current ceasefire between the two countries is set to expire on Wednesday with US President Donald Trump expressing strong doubts over its extension.
Iran has slammed the US, claiming that Trump aims to turn the negotiations into a table of surrender by imposing a blockade and violating the ceasefire.
“We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield,” Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted on X early Tuesday. Ghalibaf is expected to lead the Iranian delegation in talks with the US should it take place.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a central issue in the peace talks, being a source of escalation in the conflict.
Trump issues warning
President Donald Trump announced the US delegation was set to attend negotiations in Islamabad on Tuesday but that the date could be pushed back. Vice President JD Vance is expected to lead the delegation along with Trump’s Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
In a conversation with PBS News, when asked what would happen if the ceasefire expires, Trump replied, “Then lots of bombs start going off.”
“I mean, they’re supposed to be there. We agreed to be there, although they say we didn’t. But no, it was set up. And we’ll see whether or not it’s there. If they’re not there, that’s fine too,” he said.
Iran explains its stance
An Iranian official told The Washington Post that the tone of Trump’s public statements and the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz were the to major issues threatening peace negotiations. While both sides largely agreed on the outlines of a deal, they alleged Trump’s public ‘maximalism’ risking diplomatic progress.
According to reports, Pakistan mediators warned Washington against strong public rhetoric. A Pakistani official told The Post that they encouraged the US president to allow the narrative that talks in Islamabad were a ‘win-win’ for Iran and the United States.
