Iran has said it would not participate in a second round of peace talks in Pakistan with the US this week due to America’s demands and ongoing naval blockade in the Gulf.
“Iran stated that its absence from the second round of talks stems from what it called Washington’s excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions, and the ongoing naval blockade, which it considers a breach of the ceasefire,” the IRNA state-run outlet said.
The statement comes just hours after President Trump told The Post that the peace talks were restarting this week in Pakistan.
While Trump told The Post that US negotiators, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, were heading to Islamabad on Monday, Pakistani mediators have not confirmed the meeting.
The Islamic republic’s refusal to attend the talks highlights the ongoing tension between Tehran and Washington as the cease-fire is set to expire this week.
President Trump had warned Tehran to accept his terms for a peace deal, give up its nuclear materials, and open up the Strait of Hormuz, with the commander in chief renewing his threats to destroy Iran’s bridges and power plants.
“We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday.
“NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!” he added.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned his American counterpart’s latest threats as he once again rejected allegations that Tehran’s nuclear program was working to develop atomic weapons.
Pezeshkian maintained that Iran was only working to develop nuclear energy plants and said his country was fighting a defensive war against the US and Israel despite Tehran’s repeated attacks across several Middle Eastern countries.
“We are pacifists and what we are doing is legitimate self-defense,” he asserted, according to Press TV.
