Iran has decided not to participate in the second round of peace talks with the United States, which were expected to take place in Pakistan. The decision was reported on Sunday by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency and comes at a sensitive moment, just days before the expiry of a two-week ceasefire between the two countries.
According to the report, Tehran’s withdrawal signals growing distrust in the negotiation process, with Iranian officials pointing to what they describe as Washington’s shifting and demanding approach.
Iran cites ‘excessive demands’ and ‘unrealistic expectations’
Explaining its decision, Iran accused the United States of repeatedly altering its position and setting conditions that Tehran considers unacceptable.
As quoted in the report, Iran stated that its absence from the talks is due to ‘Washington’s excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions and the ongoing naval blockade, which it considers a breach of the ceasefire’.
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Iranian officials also argued that the situation has been worsened by what they see as inconsistency in the American negotiating approach.
Claims of misinformation over Islamabad talks
Iranian state media further questioned the legitimacy of the proposed meeting in Islamabad, suggesting that the announcement itself was misleading. It described the reported second round of negotiations as inaccurate and part of a broader information strategy.
The report claimed that it was a ‘media game’ and ‘blame game’ designed by the United States to apply pressure on Iran.
Washington’s position and Trump’s remarks
On the other side, the United States had indicated that the next round of discussions would begin in Islamabad on Monday. Former President Donald Trump also confirmed the involvement of American negotiators and publicly addressed the situation through his Truth Social platform.
In his remarks, Trump escalated rhetoric against Iran, stating that the US was ‘going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!’
Ceasefire under strain after earlier conflict
The current tensions follow a brief but intense conflict between the US-Israel alliance and Iran earlier this year, which resulted in significant casualties. A ceasefire was brokered on April 11 with Pakistan playing a mediating role, temporarily halting the hostilities.
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However, despite the pause in fighting, underlying disagreements have continued to deepen, especially over sanctions, naval restrictions, and broader security concerns.
So far, diplomatic engagement has been minimal. Only one round of talks was held in Islamabad, lasting about 21 hours, but it ended without any concrete breakthrough.
With the ceasefire nearing its end, uncertainty remains over whether further negotiations will take place or whether tensions between the two sides could escalate again.
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Iran signals no immediate breakthrough
Adding to the uncertainty, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker, recently stated that both sides were still far from reaching any meaningful agreement. His comments reflect Tehran’s current stance that major gaps remain unresolved.
