Tehran has ruled out participation in a fresh round of negotiations with the United States, according to Iran’s state news agency. The announcement comes just days before a fragile two-week ceasefire in the Middle East is set to expire on April 22.
The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) dismissed reports of a second round of talks scheduled in Islamabad, Pakistan, as “false.” It pointed to what it described as Washington’s “excessive demands, unreasonable and unrealistic expectations, frequent shifts in positions, continuous contradictions,” and a naval blockade that allegedly violates the ceasefire agreement. Threatening rhetoric from the US side has further complicated matters, leaving the prospects for constructive dialogue “bleak,” IRNA stated.
Iranian officials accused the United States of engaging in a “blame game” and spreading falsehoods about Tehran’s willingness to join another round of discussions in order to exert pressure on the country.
The ongoing US naval blockade of Iranian ports remains a major obstacle. The situation worsened after an American destroyer fired on and seized an Iranian vessel attempting to evade it, prompting Tehran to warn of retaliation. Earlier reports from Iran’s Fars and Tasnim news agencies, citing unnamed sources, described the overall atmosphere for talks as “not very positive” and identified the lifting of the blockade as a key precondition for any progress.
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The current ceasefire, which paused hostilities following a surprise US-Israeli strike on Iran on February 28, is due to end shortly. US President Donald Trump has accused Iran of violating the truce while expressing hope for a peace agreement. In comments reported by ABC News, Trump described the US offer as “very fair and reasonable” and reiterated threats against Iranian infrastructure if no deal materializes.
Trump earlier announced on his Truth Social platform that American negotiators would head to Islamabad “tomorrow night.” A White House official confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that the delegation would be led by Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. Speaking to Axios, the president voiced optimism, saying the “concept of the deal is done” and that there was a “very good chance” of completing it.
As the deadline approaches, both sides remain locked in a standoff marked by deep mistrust and competing demands, with little sign of immediate breakthrough.
