Iran not planning to attend talks with US in Pakistan
via Punch Nigeria4 min read
Iran has stated it is not currently planning to attend talks with the United States, according to state media. This announcement follows President Donald Trump's directive for US negotiators to travel to Pakistan for discussions, just days before a Middle East ceasefire is set to expire. A significant point of contention is the ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports. The situation escalated when a US destroyer fired upon and seized an Iranian ship that reportedly attempted to evade the blockade. Tehran indicated it would retaliate, with reports of Iran sending drones towards US military ships after the vessel's seizure. Iranian sources cited by state broadcaster IRIB stated there are "currently no plans to participate in the next round of Iran-US talks." Earlier reports from Fars and Tasnim news agencies, citing anonymous sources, suggested the overall atmosphere was not positive and that lifting the US blockade was a precondition for negotiations. State-run IRNA also pointed to the blockade and Washington's "unreasonable and unrealistic demands," concluding there was no clear prospect for fruitful negotiations under these circumstances. The ceasefire, which halted the Middle East war ignited by US-Israeli strikes on Iran, is nearing its end. The only prior negotiating session in Islamabad on April 11 ended inconclusively. President Trump, who has been under pressure to address Iran's actions regarding the Strait of Hormuz, stated he was offering a "very fair and reasonable DEA
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