TEHRAN — Iran said it has no plans for the next round of peace talks with the United States, its Foreign Ministry spokesman stated on Monday, casting doubt on anticipated negotiations in Pakistan.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters that Tehran currently has "no plans for the next round of negotiation, and no decision has been made in this regard," according to state media and international reports. The comments followed the U.S. Navy's seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.
The U.S. announced that its forces fired on and disabled the vessel, identified as the Touska, after it attempted to bypass a naval blockade of Iranian ports. U.S. Marines then boarded and took custody of the ship, President Donald Trump said. Iran described the action as "armed piracy" and a violation of a fragile ceasefire between the two countries.
The ceasefire, which had been in place amid broader regional tensions, is set to expire on Wednesday. U.S. officials had indicated that a U.S. delegation, reportedly led by Vice President JD Vance, was preparing to travel to Pakistan for a new round of talks aimed at extending or solidifying the truce.
Baghaei's statement indicated that the atmosphere was not conducive to negotiations following the ship incident. Iranian officials have accused Washington of excessive demands and repeated ceasefire violations, state media reported.
The seizure occurred in the Gulf of Oman as the ship tried to pass the U.S. blockade, which began last week. Iranian military authorities, including the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, vowed retaliation once the safety of the crew and their families was ensured, but provided no timeline for any response.
U.S. Central Command confirmed the boarding operation but has not issued further details on the ship's cargo or the crew's status as of Monday. No casualties were reported from the interception.
Pakistan had been preparing to host the talks, tightening security in Islamabad in anticipation of possible multi-day negotiations. However, Iranian officials dismissed reports of an imminent second round as premature.
As of Monday evening, no U.S. response to Iran's statement on the talks was immediately available. The seized vessel remained in U.S. custody, with investigations ongoing, according to American statements. Iranian authorities continued to monitor developments, with details on the crew's condition and any further diplomatic moves remaining unclear.
