Iran to skip second-round US talks in Islamabad citing naval blockade, distrust

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran’s decision to skip the second round of Pakistan-mediated talks with the United States in Islamabad remains unchanged, media outlets close to the Iranian military reported on Monday, citing Washington’s ongoing maritime blockade of Iranian shipping as a key obstacle. This follows remarks by US President Donald Trump that Washington’s negotiating team would depart for the Pakistani capital on Monday evening to finalize a deal.

Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported that “Iran's decision not to attend the negotiations has not changed up to this moment,” adding that “the maritime blockade remains a very fundamental obstacle in the negotiations.” The outlet said the issue has been relayed through the Pakistani intermediary, which “has raised the issue with Trump.”

Tensions had escalated earlier in the day after Tehran vowed retaliation for the seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship by US forces in the Gulf of Oman.

Trump on Monday revealed that American forces had taken “full custody of the ship and are inspecting its contents.” In mid-April, he had announced a naval blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports amid ongoing talks with Tehran.

On Sunday, Trump also said that US negotiators would head to Islamabad on Monday evening to reach a deal, urging Iran to accept it or face serious consequences.

Beyond the naval blockade, Tasnim added that “there are other excessive demands from the American [negotiators]” that “do not bode a bright horizon for the upcoming negotiations.” According to the outlet, the Iranian delegation believes that Washington “does not view the issue realistically” and accordingly their healing to the negotiating table “will merely be a waste of time.”

Tasnim added that “until some fundamental obstacles are removed and a clear horizon emerges for reaching an agreement acceptable to Iran, Tehran has no interest in participating in this American theater."

Earlier in the day, Iranian foreign ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei had stated, “We have no plans for the next round of negotiation, and no decision has been made in this regard,” accusing the US of “carrying out behaviours that do not in any way indicate seriousness in pursuing a diplomatic process.”

Baqaei also censured the US naval blockade on Iranian ports and shipping as “clear violations of the ceasefire.”

The US and Israel launched a preemptive air campaign on February 28, targeting more than 17,000 sites across Iran over six weeks of hostilities before the warring sides agreed to a Pakistan-mediated April 8 ceasefire to halt fighting for two weeks and pursue talks.

While the first round of discussions ended without a final agreement on April 11, a high-level Pakistani “political-security delegation” arrived in Iran on Wednesday, reportedly to deliver a “new message” from Washington to Tehran and lay the groundwork for a second round of talks, Iranian state media reported.

Key sticking points remain, including the possession of Iran’s estimated 441 kilograms of 60-percent enriched uranium and its nuclear enrichment capabilities, as well as the lifting of sanctions and the release of frozen Iranian assets.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that “deep historical mistrust” toward the US government persists in Iran, pointing to what he described as “unconstructive and contradictory” messaging from American officials. He said these signals “carry a bitter message” suggesting Washington seeks Iran’s surrender, while stressing that “Iranians do not submit to force.”