Iran has rejected participation in a second round of peace talks, citing “excessive demands” and the ongoing US naval blockade, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Sunday.
IRNA accused Washington of “maximalism” and “unrealistic expectations,” along with frequent shifts in stance and contradictions, adding that there is “no clear prospect of fruitful negotiations” under current conditions.
Other Iranian outlets, including Fars News Agency and Tasnim News Agency, quoted sources saying Tehran has not taken a final call yet, though the atmosphere around talks remains “not very positive.” Lifting the US blockade on Iranian ports was cited as a key precondition for any engagement.
The development comes as Donald Trump confirmed that a second round of negotiations is being planned in Islamabad. Speaking to ABC News journalist Jonathan Karl, Trump expressed confidence about securing a deal while accusing Iran of “serious violations” during the recent ceasefire.
“It will happen. One way or another… the nice way or the hard way,” Trump said.
In a separate post on Truth Social, he warned that failure to reach an agreement could lead to the US targeting Iran’s critical infrastructure, including power plants and bridges.
Trump also confirmed that JD Vance will not attend the upcoming talks due to security constraints, despite earlier indications he might lead the delegation. He noted that arrangements by the Secret Service could not be made at short notice.
Earlier, US officials, including Mike Waltz and Chris Wright, had suggested Vance’s participation before the plan was dropped.
