ISLAMABAD — A U.S. delegation was preparing to travel to Pakistan on Monday for a new round of peace talks with Iran, even as Tehran signaled it had no current plans to participate following the U.S. seizure of an Iranian cargo ship, officials said.
Vice President JD Vance is expected to lead the American side in the negotiations, which Pakistan has offered to host in an effort to extend a fragile ceasefire due to expire on Wednesday, according to U.S. and Pakistani statements. The talks would follow an initial round held in Islamabad earlier this month.
The development came one day after the U.S. Navy seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump said U.S. forces fired on the vessel after it ignored warnings while attempting to bypass a naval blockade of Iranian ports, and Marines then boarded it. No casualties were reported.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday that Tehran had "no plans for the next round of negotiation, and no decision has been made in this regard," according to Iranian state media. Iran's military command described the seizure as "armed piracy" and vowed to retaliate once the safety of the crew and their families was ensured.
Pakistan tightened security in Islamabad in anticipation of possible multi-day talks, officials there said. Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, had recently engaged in diplomacy to facilitate the negotiations.
U.S. officials have expressed hope that the talks could help stabilize the situation in the region and address tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil shipments. Iran had earlier declared the strait closed in response to the U.S. blockade but later signaled possible reopening during the ceasefire period.
As of Monday, no confirmation had emerged from Iranian officials that a delegation would attend the planned talks. The U.S. Central Command confirmed the ship seizure operation but released limited additional details. The seized vessel remained in U.S. custody, with its cargo and the crew's status under investigation.
The ceasefire, which has held uneasily amid mutual accusations of violations, is set to end soon. Updates on whether the talks will proceed as scheduled were not immediately available.
