Arabic version: تعقيد المفاوضات الأمريكية الإيرانية بسبب التوترات البحرية

Donald Trump announced on Sunday that a second round of US-Iran talks is to be held in Pakistan on Monday – but Tehran has not confirmed participation, two days before a ceasefire deal expires. Adding to the complexities, US Marines captured an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, Touska, near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, prompting Tehran to pledge retaliation. According to Al Jazeera, tensions escalated after the capture, with Trump threatening to knock out Iran’s power plants and bridges if no agreement is reached.

Iran’s top joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya, accused the US of violating the ceasefire by shooting at an Iranian ship in the Gulf of Oman and vowed to retaliate. Trump confirmed that US Marines had stopped the vessel by blowing a hole in its engine room. Additionally, Iran executed two men convicted of cooperating with Israel’s Mossad intelligence service, as reported by the judiciary’s news outlet Mizan.

In terms of international diplomacy, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has expressed readiness to mediate the conflict and confirmed discussions with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. However, Iranian state media indicated that Tehran was not planning to take part in talks with the United States, citing the ongoing blockade and threats from the US.

As the ceasefire nears its expiration, Turkey’s Foreign Minister expressed optimism about extending the ceasefire to allow for further negotiations. Meanwhile, oil prices surged on Monday due to the renewed hostilities in the region, although there remain hopes for a resolution to the ongoing crisis.