As the current ceasefire agreement approaches its expiration in just a few hours, neither the U.S. nor the Iranian negotiating teams have made their way to Islamabad. As reported on Sunday, although the U.S. responded positively to a second round of negotiations, it seems unlikely that the Iranian team will attend. The Iranian side has publicly stated, “Iran will not send a negotiating team to Islamabad while the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports continues, and no negotiations will take place.” President Trump, through U.S. Central Command, has made it clear that the blockade is not open for discussion.
Iran, on its part, argues that the original ceasefire allowed for the free passage of ships to and from its ports and that the U.S. blockade is a violation of that agreement. According to state media, the Iranian ministry described the seizure of the Touska commercial vessel on Sunday night as an “illegal and brutal act,” characterizing it as “piracy and a terrorist action.” They stated that the seizure, which occurred near Iran’s coast in the Sea of Oman, represents “another clear breach” of the two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire, which is set to expire on Wednesday.
Vice President JD Vance, along with negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, was scheduled to take a morning flight to Islamabad; instead, they were called to the White House for “consultations.”
Vice President JD Vance’s trip to Pakistan for a second round of negotiations with Iran has been put on hold after Tehran failed to respond to American positions, a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the situation said Tuesday. Iran, for its part, said it had not yet decided whether to resume talks with the United States.
Earlier today, President Trump expressed his willingness to take decisive action against mullahs and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps trolls, rather than allow negotiations to prolong and potentially be used as a weapon against the United States.
And not long ago, Trump issued an updated statement:
It comes in mens and womens and lets your friends know you're happy to express your views and don't care what anyone thinks! Cheers!
Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal. I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.
It’s impossible to know what the president and his team know, so we will just have to trust him on this. The only thing I’ll say on the matter is that the Iranians believe the longer they delay, the more this situation will harm Trump and the Republican Party ahead of the 2026 midterms. And sadly, they may be right.
But I can’t believe that Trump doesn’t already know that.
