Iran rules out immediate second round of US talks amid ceasefire tensions

TEHRAN: Iran has said there are currently no plans to hold a second round of negotiations with the United States, signalling a setback in ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the regional conflict.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said during a weekly press briefing that Washington had failed to demonstrate seriousness in pursuing diplomacy.

“While claiming diplomacy and readiness for negotiations, the US is carrying out behaviours that do not in any way indicate seriousness in pursuing a diplomatic process,” he said.

Baghaei accused the US of multiple ceasefire violations, including an alleged attack on an Iranian cargo vessel, the continuation of a naval blockade, and delays in implementing a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Tehran has therefore declined to engage in further talks for now, citing what it described as inconsistent US positions, escalating rhetoric, and “excessive demands.”

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammadreza Aref also warned against restrictions on the country’s oil exports, saying, “The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone.”

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The development comes despite earlier remarks by US President Donald Trump, who had said negotiators were being sent to Pakistan for another round of talks.

The first round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington, held earlier this month, ended without a breakthrough despite taking place under a fragile two-week ceasefire that began on April 8.

Key sticking points remain Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium and the status of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, which has seen disruptions since the conflict began.

Baghaei also dismissed reports about transferring enriched uranium abroad, stating that such an option had never been discussed by Iran.

The conflict, which escalated following strikes on February 28, continues to fuel instability across the region, with diplomatic efforts facing growing uncertainty despite international mediation attempts.