Iran announced on Monday that it has not yet decided whether to participate in the next round of peace talks with the United States set to take place in Pakistan. This announcement follows accusations from Tehran that Washington violated the ceasefire agreement by confiscating its Touska cargo ship.
The Iranian government had previously declared on Sunday that it would not be engaging in a new series of negotiations, citing “excessive demands” from the U.S. However, Esmaeil Baqaei, the spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, struck a less definitive tone.
“At this moment, there are no plans for another round of negotiations, and no decision has been reached on this matter,” Baqaei stated in a press briefing, as reported by the Tasnim News Agency.
Accusing Washington of a ceasefire breach, Baqaei described the seizure of the vessel as an “act of aggression.”
He further alleged that Iran has encountered “bad faith” from the U.S., asserting that Washington has undermined diplomatic efforts on two occasions and launched attacks infringing upon Iranian sovereignty.
Baqaei concluded by saying, “Iran will carefully evaluate its national interests before making any decisions regarding its future course.”
The Touska ship was seized in the Gulf of Oman when it tried to break past the Navy’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
A CENTCOM video shared online by Reuters’ chief national security reporter showed the US Navy ship warning those aboard the Iranian cargo ship to vacate its engine room before firing multiple blasts.
“Motor vessel Touska, motor vessel Touska, vacate your engine room, vacate your engine room. We are prepared to subject you to disabling fire,” a Marine can be heard saying before the ship’s horn blows and blasts go off.
US negotiators are working to secure a peace deal before the fragile 10-day ceasefire expires Wednesday.
Vice President Vance is heading to Pakistan, alongside envoys Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son in law, Jared Kushner, with the hope of striking a deal.
US negotiators held talks in Islamabad for 21 hours earlier this month, but no peace deal was reached.
Vance said a no-deal outcome was “bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America.”
President Trump warned US forces may “have to start dropping bombs again” if there is no agreement as reported by NewsNation.
“But I think it’s going to happen,” he said.
Trump has repeated his threats to wipe out Iran’s energy infrastructure and bridges if no deal is reached.
“They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the deal, it will be my honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents for the last 47 years,” Trump wrote.
“IT’S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has claimed his country is fighting a defensive war against the US and Israel.
“We are pacifists and what we are doing is legitimate self-defense,” he said, according to Press TV.
