Tehran Declines US Talks in Pakistan as Blockade Dispute Deepens

Iran has indicated it will not participate in upcoming negotiations with the United States in Pakistan, citing worsening tensions and disagreements over a US naval blockade.

According to state media, Iranian officials said “there are currently no plans to participate in the next round of Iran-US talks,” even as US President Donald Trump announced that American negotiators would travel to Islamabad.

Relations have deteriorated further following a US naval action in which an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel was fired upon and seized after allegedly attempting to breach the blockade.

Trump said the ship, identified as Touska, “tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them,” adding that US forces took control after damaging its engine.

Iran has condemned the move and signalled retaliation. Tasnim news agency reported that drones were dispatched toward US naval assets after the vessel was seized.

Iranian outlets, including Fars and IRNA, said the current environment is not conducive to talks, pointing to the blockade and what they described as Washington’s “unreasonable and unrealistic demands.”

The dispute unfolds as a two-week ceasefire between Iran, the United States, and Israel nears its end. The truce followed a conflict sparked by US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

Only one negotiation session has been held so far — a 21-hour meeting in Islamabad on April 11 — which failed to produce a breakthrough.

Trump said Sunday that Washington is presenting “a very fair and reasonable DEAL,” but warned of consequences if an agreement is not reached.

A key sticking point remains Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. While Trump claimed Tehran had agreed to hand over the material, Iran’s foreign ministry rejected the suggestion.

“Regarding the issue of transferring enriched uranium… it was never raised as an option for us,” officials said, insisting the stockpile “is not going to be transferred anywhere.”

Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, with Iran warning that any unauthorised passage would be treated as hostile.

Security has been heightened in Islamabad ahead of the expected US delegation, which is reportedly to be led by Vice President JD Vance and include senior officials.

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