US President Donald Trump mentioned his negotiators will head to Pakistan on Monday for talks with Iran, lifting hopes of extending a ceasefire set to run out this week at the same time as Washington and Tehran stay locked in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz.President Donald Trump closes his eyes whereas listening within the Oval Workplace of the White Home, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP)The prospect of talks, got here as ships stay unable to transit the essential waterway amid threats from Iran and a US blockade on ships heading to and from Iranian ports.Additionally learn: Trump says US seized Iranian-flagged vessel attempting to breach blockade; Tehran vows ‘swift response’Iranian officers mentioned earlier on Sunday that they remained open to negotiation, however held agency that ships wouldn’t go the strait whereas the US blockade remained in impact.“It's not possible for others to go by the Strait of Hormuz whereas we can not,” Iranian parliamentary Speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf mentioned in an interview aired on state tv late Saturday.US officers in Pak, Tehran to skip talksHowever, Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic Information Company introduced in a put up on X that Tehran would skip the talks.“Iran acknowledged that its absence from the second spherical of talks stems from what it referred to as Washington’s extreme calls for, unrealistic expectations, fixed shifts in stance, repeated contradictions, and the continuing naval blockade, which it considers a breach of the ceasefire,” IRNA reported in a put up on X.In his put up saying official journey for an additional spherical of talks, Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire by firing at ships passing the strait and threatened to destroy civilian infrastructure in Iran, if it doesn’t take the deal that the U.S.
is providing.Additionally learn: Iran ‘rejects’ participation in second spherical of talks; US negotiators to be in Islamabad“In the event that they don’t, america goes to knock out each single Energy Plant, and each single Bridge, in Iran,” Trump wrote.He didn’t element which officers that the US can be sending to a second spherical of in-person talks with Iran is Islamabad. The White Home and workplace of US Vice President JD Vance, who led the primary spherical of talks, didn’t instantly reply to messages Sunday morning. It remained unclear whether or not both aspect had shifted their stances on unresolved points that derailed the final spherical of negotiations, together with Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, its regional proxies and management over the Strait of Hormuz.Iran acknowledges hole in diplomacyQalibaf, who's Iran’s chief negotiator in talks with america, mentioned earlier than Trump’s newest feedback that Iran nonetheless was in search of peace regardless of the blockade and deep-seated mistrust of Washington.
“There might be no retreat within the subject of diplomacy,” he mentioned, acknowledging that the hole between the 2 sides remained extensive. Iran had introduced the strait’s reopening after a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took maintain on Friday. However after Trump mentioned that the U.S. blockade of Iran’s ports “will stay in full power” till Tehran reaches a cope with america, Iran mentioned it will proceed imposing its restrictions within the strait.After a quick uptick in transit makes an attempt on Saturday, vessels within the Persian Gulf held their positions, cautious after two India-flagged ships have been fired on mid-transit and compelled to show round.
Their retreat returned the strait, by which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil commerce usually passes, to its pre-ceasefire establishment, threatening to deepen the worldwide power disaster and push the events towards renewed battle because the conflict entered its eighth week.Ceasefire in perilWith days till the ceasefire in place between the U.S. and Iran runs out, Iran on Saturday mentioned it had obtained new proposals from america, and Pakistani mediators have been working to rearrange one other spherical of direct negotiations within the coming days. Pakistani authorities started tightening safety within the capital, Islamabad. A regional official concerned within the mediation efforts mentioned that mediators have been finalizing the preparations and that U.S. advance safety groups have been already on the bottom.
The official spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to debate the preparations with the media.Additionally learn: What occurred in Louisiana? Man's ‘heinous’ taking pictures rampage leaves 8 kids lifeless: What we all know so farFor the Islamic Republic, the strait’s closure — imposed after the U.S. and Israel launched the Iran conflict on Feb. 28 throughout talks over Tehran’s nuclear program — is maybe its strongest weapon, threatening the world financial system and inflicting political ache on Trump. For america, the blockade squeezes Iran’s already weakened financial system and pressures its authorities by denying it long-term money circulation.Although the ceasefire has held, the standoff within the strait threatens to plunge the area again right into a conflict that has killed a minimum of 3,000 folks in Iran, greater than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and greater than a dozen in Gulf Arab states.
Fifteen Israeli troopers in Lebanon and 13 US service members all through the area have been killed. Revolutionary Guard gunboats opened fireplace on a tanker and a projectile hit a container vessel, damaging some containers, the British army’s United Kingdom Maritime Commerce Operations middle mentioned. India’s Overseas Ministry mentioned it summoned Iran’s ambassador over the “severe incident” of firing on two India-flagged service provider ships, particularly after Iran earlier let a number of India-bound ships by.Additionally learn: Iranian girl arrested in US over brokering sale of 'drones, bombs', others ammunition between Tehran and Sudan“People are risking the worldwide group, risking the worldwide financial system by these, I can say, miscalculations,” Iranian Deputy Overseas Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh instructed The Related Press, including that the U.S.
is “risking the entire ceasefire package deal.” Iran’s Supreme Nationwide Safety Council issued an announcement calling the blockade a violation of the ceasefire and mentioned Iran would stop “any conditional and restricted reopening” of the strait. The council has just lately acted as Iran’s de facto prime decision-making physique.“Iran is decided to keep up oversight and management over visitors by the strait till the conflict totally ends,” the council mentioned. Meaning Iran-designated routes, fee of charges and issuance of transit certificates. The renewed standoff over the strait got here hours after Pakistani Overseas Minister Ishaq Dar mentioned that his nation was working to “bridge” variations between the US and Iran. Earlier than Trump’s newest put up on Sunday, Iran’s Supreme Nationwide Safety Council mentioned that “new proposals” from the U.S.
had been put ahead throughout a go to to Iran by Pakistan’s military chief and have been being reviewed.Khatibzadeh mentioned Iran gained’t hand over its inventory of 440 kg of enriched uranium to the US, calling the concept “a nonstarter.” He didn’t tackle different proposals for the enriched uranium, saying solely that “we're prepared to handle any issues.”
