Iran has officially stated it currently has “no plans to participate” in further negotiations with the United States (U.S), casting a shadow over diplomatic efforts as the current ceasefire nears its expiration on Wednesday.
This firm stance from the Iranian government comes in direct response to escalating rhetoric from U.S President Donald Trump, who has intensified his pressure on the Islamic Republic.
The foreign ministry of Iran on Monday said that the country hasn’t decided whether it will attend a second round of negotiations with the U.S.
“As of now… we have no plans for the next round of negotiation, and no decision has been made in this regard,” spokesman Esmail Baghaei says, in a translation from the AFP news agency.
Iranian state media also reported officials had no plans to attend due to the “continuation of the so-called naval blockade, violation of the ceasefire, and threatening U.S rhetoric”.
This comes as Trump has said he is sending a delegation to Pakistan led by Vice-President JD Vance for talks planned for Monday evening. Trump’s Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were also due to attend.
Recall also that Trump renewed his threat on Iran’s critical infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, should the current deadlock in negotiations persist.
Trump said he was sending a delegation to Pakistan on Monday for negotiations, as he renewed his threats on Iran’s infrastructure if it didn’t agree to a deal.
“NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!” the American leader declared on Sunday in a post on his Truth Social account, saying that without a deal, Washington was “going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran”.
Meanwhile, oil prices climbed more than 5% while world shares were mixed on Monday as a standoff between Iran and the U.S. prevented tankers from using the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. benchmark crude gained 5.3% to $87.88 a barrel, while Brent crude, the international standard, was up 5.3% at $95.62 a barrel on Monday.
In share trading, U.S. futures declined, with the contracts for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.7%.
The situation comes after Iran briefly reopened the strait on Friday in recognition of an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in Lebanon, but closed it again the following day in response to the U.S maintaining its blockade.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned that any attempt to pass through the strait without permission “will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and the offending vessel will be targeted”.
“If America does not lift the blockade, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be limited,” Ghalibaf said.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei on Sunday said the blockade was “a violation” of the ceasefire and illegal collective punishment of the Iranian people.
