Hopes of meeting Pakistan have evaporated. Bezekkian refuses to negotiate under threat, Trump clings to blockade
The negotiating track between Tehran and Washington has witnessed a major setback following the departure of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi from the Pakistani capital Islamabad without making much progress.
This came after a surprise decision by US President Donald Trump to cancel the visit of his envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, which was scheduled to complete the indirect talks.
In this context, Ali Safri, advisor to the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, stressed that "the ball is now in Washington's court," stressing that the main obstacle lies in the "American methodology" that relies on pressure instead of diplomacy, especially after Washington retracted previous understandings related to the lifting of the naval blockade.
Bazshkian: No negotiations under pressure
For his part, Iranian President Masoud Bezshakian reiterated that his country "will not enter into forced negotiations under pressure or threats."
During a phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Bazshkian explained that building trust requires stopping hostile paths, considering that talking about dialogue in parallel with the tightening of the blockade "undermines mutual trust."
On the other hand, the Pakistani prime minister reiterated his country's commitment to continue its mediation role despite the current complexities, while Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mejrani expressed Tehran's hope for a sustainable peace while fully adhering to the right to defend the country.
Araqji in Muscat
Following the stalemate of Pakistan's path, the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, received Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi today at Al-Baraka Palace in Muscat.
The meeting discussed the latest developments in the regional situation and the efforts of Omani mediation aimed at ending conflicts.
The Sultan of Oman was briefed on Iran's views on the developments, stressing the importance of giving precedence to the language of dialogue. Iranian officials described the Sultanate of Oman as a "strategic partner and historical mediator" that can be relied on to break the stalemate of the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" policy.
On the field level, US President Donald Trump showed an escalatory tone, stressing that the recent security incidents, including the shooting incident in Washington last night, will not affect his position, and stressed that he will "not back down from achieving victory."
Iranian officials have also revealed sharp divergence in attitudes on navigation: while Tehran has offered to open the Strait of Hormuz as a gesture of goodwill, Washington has responded by strengthening its military presence and sending minesweepers.
Iranian adviser Ali Safri pointed out that Trump's renegation of promises to lift the blockade on Iranian ports has aborted the steps of the truce that began after the ceasefire in Lebanon.
Naval blockade and interception of "shadow ships"
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the interception of the merchant ship M/V Sivan in the Arabian Sea by a helicopter launched from the destroyer USS Pinckney.
Washington explained that the ship belongs to the "shadow fleet" and is used to transport billions of dollars worth of Iranian energy products.
The US military confirmed that since the imposition of the naval blockade, 37 ships that were trying to breach sanctions have been redirected, putting the region in front of open scenarios between military escalation and continued economic strangulation.