Iran talks on the rocks as time runs out on ceasefire

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The clock is ticking on the U.S. and Iran reaching a permanent deal to end their weeks-long war ahead of the conclusion of a two-week ceasefire that expires on Wednesday.  

The U.S. seizure on Sunday of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship trying to get past its blockade in the Hormuz Strait has drawn threats of retaliation from Iran, sent oil prices back up and cast a second round of talks into doubt.  

Iran’s state news agency on Sunday slammed the U.S. side for “excessive demands and unreasonable, unrealistic requests,” while citing officials saying “no clear prospect for productive talks is envisaged.” 

Iran has also pledged to retaliate for the seized oil tanker once the lives of the crew are safeguarded. A spokesman for Iran’s military told the state broadcaster said Monday it would “take the necessary action against the U.S. military” in due time.  

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told Reuters there was “no plan for a second round of negotiations with the U.S. for now.” 

President Trump, in a post on Truth Social Sunday, said of the operation, “The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom.”  

The renewed tensions reversed a drop in oil prices after Iran on Friday said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen, a move that was revoked after Trump said a U.S. blockade of the crucial trading corridor would remain in place.  

Markets signals growing fears of a return to war in futures trading on Monday morning: Brent crude was trading at about $96 per barrel, Treasury yields edged higher and stocks fell before markets opened for the week.  

Trump earlier on Sunday announced a second round of talks, saying in a post the U.S. is offering a “very fair and reasonable DEAL.” If no deal comes together, he renewed threats to destroy all of Iran’s power plants and bridges. 

“NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years,” Trump said. 

A White House official said Vice President Vance, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, will lead the negotiations. 

The talks would take place in Islamabad, Pakistan, where a first round of talks took place earlier this month. Trump told the New York Post in a phone call that Witkoff would arrive in Pakistan on Monday night ahead of the talks on Tuesday. 

Iranian sources familiar with the negotiations told CNN that a delegation including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf will represent the Iranian side.  

Iran was also skeptical the first round of talks until ultimately taking part. While Vance described that first meeting as productive, more than 20 hours of negotiations didn’t yield a breakthrough.  

The current ceasefire is set to expire in about 48 hours unless the two sides agree to an extension or a more comprehensive deal to end the war. CNN reported that Iran was expecting a symbolic joint announcement of extending the ceasefire on Wednesday. 

But the White House has previously ruled out the idea of an extension, and Trump is seeking to add pressure on Tehran to agree to U.S. demands. 

Momentum seemed to be rising for a resolution toward the end of last week, with Iran signaling a reopening of the Hormuz strait and Israel and Lebanon agreeing to a 10-day ceasefire that Trump said also includes the militant group Hezbollah.  

But the optimism was short-lived, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard........

© The Hill