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WASHINGTON – The US military seized a tanker linked to Iran in international waters, as time was running out on a ceasefire and the prospect of last-ditch further peace talks still up in the air.
The US had expressed confidence that peace talks with Iran were likely to proceed in Pakistan, and Tehran had signalled it may join. But with the final hours of a two-week truce ticking by, there was little time left for the talks.
The US military said it boarded the tanker Tifani “without incident”.
The ship, capable of carrying 2 million barrels of crude, last reported its position early on April 21 as near Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, according to MarineTraffic tracking data. It was close to fully loaded and had signalled Singapore as its destination.
“As we have made clear, we will pursue global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit networks and interdict sanctioned vessels providing material support to Iran, anywhere they operate,” the US Central Command said.
In a short statement on social media, US President Donald Trump said Iran had carried out numerous violations of the ceasefire, without giving further details.
There was no immediate comment from Iran on the boarding, but the move could complicate efforts to arrange peace talks.
Iran has said the US blockade of its ports amounts to a US violation of the truce, and that it will not negotiate while the blockade is being enforced.
Iranian sources said Tehran still had not made a firm decision on whether to attend another round of peace talks in Islamabad, aimed at ending the war that the US and Israel unleashed on Iran on Feb 28.
Pakistani officials have said that if the delegations do attend, they will not arrive until April 22, leaving just hours to reach a deal before the two-week truce expires.
Mr Trump has threatened to restart the war and attack Iran’s civilian infrastructure unless it accepts his terms.
A first session of talks 10 days ago produced no agreement, and Tehran had been ruling out a second round this week, after the US refused to end its blockade of Iranian ports and seized an Iranian cargo ship.
Still, a Pakistani source involved in the discussions said there was momentum for talks to resume on April 22, and US Vice-President J.D. Vance was expected in Islamabad.
An Iranian official said on April 20 that Tehran was “positively reviewing” its participation but stressed that it was waiting to see if its conditions would be met, including recognition of its right to enrich uranium.
The Pakistani source, who declined to be identified while discussing confidential diplomatic matters, said US President Donald Trump might attend, either in person or virtually, if a deal were to be signed.
Oil prices eased around 50 US cents (64 Singapore cents), and stocks bounced back in Asia on expectations that peace talks will resume this week, although European stocks were flat.
Oil jumped around 6 per cent on April 20 on doubts about the talks.
A senior Iranian military commander said on April 21 that Iran was ready to deliver an “immediate and decisive response” to any renewed hostility from adversaries, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said.
Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam said in a post on social media platform X that any nation with a great civilisation would not negotiate under threat or force.
Iran’s distrust runs deep, as the US has twice in the past year unleashed an air war while talks were under way.
Top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, in a post on X late on April 20, accused Mr Trump of increasing pressure through the blockade, saying he was deluded in seeking to “turn the negotiating table into a table of submission” or justify renewed warmongering.
Mr Trump wants an agreement that would prevent further oil price rises and stock market shocks but has insisted Iran cannot have the means to develop a nuclear weapon.
Tehran hopes to leverage its control of the Strait of Hormuz to strike a deal that averts a restart of the war, eases sanctions but does not impede its nuclear program.
Mr Trump initially announced the ceasefire would last two weeks from the evening of April 7 in Washington, though he has lately suggested it runs until the evening of April 22, effectively an extra 24 hours.
A Pakistani source involved in the talks also said it would expire at 8pm Eastern Time on April 22 (8am on April 23, Singapore time).
US Central Command said the Iranian ship impounded on April 19 by the US violated its blockade and failed to heed warnings repeated for six hours.
China, the main buyer of Iranian crude, expressed concern over the interception.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the seizure on April 21 and demanded the immediate release of the vessel, its crew and their families, warning Tehran would use all its capabilities to defend its national interests and security.
“The United States would bear full responsibility for any further escalation in the region,” it said, according to Iranian state media.
The US blockade of Iranian ports has infuriated Tehran, prompting it to maintain its own restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, which typically handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supply. Mediator Pakistan has lobbied Washington to end its blockade.
Mr Trump said on April 20 Iran was “going to negotiate, and hopefully they’ll make a fair deal, and they’ll build their country back up, but they will not have – when they do it – they will not have a nuclear weapon”.
Pakistan has been preparing to host the talks despite the uncertainty. Nearly 20,000 security personnel have been deployed across Islamabad, officials said.
Mr Trump said on April 19 that the US would destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran if it rejects his terms, continuing a recent pattern of such threats. Iran has said it would retaliate against attacks on its civil infrastructure by hitting its Gulf Arab neighbours.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News’ “Hannity” programme that a deal was close, “thanks to the success of the military operation and his (Trump’s) hardline negotiating style”.
“And if not, the president, as commander in chief, still has a number of options at his disposal that he’s unafraid to use,” she said. REUTERS
