Iran refuses to attend U.S.-Iran talks scheduled for April 22, leaving the prospects of negotiations uncertain.

Iranian media: Iran's refusal to attend the talks with the U.S. on April 22 is a final decision

¬ Trump: Extend ceasefire with Iran until negotiations conclude; maritime blockade of Iranian ports will continue

¬ Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps: If Iran is attacked, we will destroy oil facilities in Persian Gulf states

¬ Media: Vance’s visit to Pakistan postponed due to Iran’s failure to respond to U.S. position

¬ Sources: Tehran will not negotiate with the U.S. while Iranian vessels remain seized

¬ Iranian MP: Iran will not hold new round of negotiations with the U.S. unless Washington lifts the blockade

¬ Iranian Foreign Ministry: Iran has not yet made a final decision on attending the Iran-U.S. Pakistan talks

According to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, Iran's decision to refuse participation in the talks with the U.S. on April 22 is final.

The New York Times reported: "Vice President Vance was originally scheduled to travel to Islamabad to discuss nuclear agreement issues with Iranian negotiators, but this diplomatic trip to Islamabad has been postponed due to Tehran’s failure to respond to the U.S. negotiating stance."

Tasnim News Agency reported: "Iran’s refusal to attend the meeting scheduled for April 22 in Pakistan is a final decision. Despite rumors and noise from media and U.S. officials, the Iranian negotiating delegation conveyed through Pakistani mediators that, for various reasons, Iran will not attend the meeting in Islamabad on April 22, and there is currently no prospect of participating in further negotiations."

Tasnim News Agency noted that Iran currently views attending talks with the U.S. as a "waste of time," because the U.S. is obstructing any agreement that could satisfy both sides’ interests.

President Donald Trump stated that the ceasefire mechanism with Iran would be extended until Tehran submits proposals and negotiations are concluded.

Trump posted on the social platform "Truth Social": "I will extend the ceasefire mechanism until they submit their proposal, and discussions are completed in some form."

Trump said although Washington agreed to delay strikes against Iran, the maritime blockade of Iranian ports will continue.

Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social: "I have ordered our armed forces to continue the blockade."

Major General Musavi, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Air and Space Force, stated that if Arab states in the Persian Gulf use their territory and facilities to attack Iran via the U.S. or Israel, then "they can say goodbye to oil extraction."

Musavi said: "Our southern neighbors (Arab states in the Persian Gulf) must understand that if their geographical location and infrastructure are used by enemies to attack Iran, they will have to bid farewell to oil extraction."

This statement was reported by Iran’s Mehr News Agency.

The New York Times cited U.S. officials reporting that Vice President Vance’s planned trip to Islamabad to negotiate with Iran has been indefinitely postponed due to Washington receiving no response from Tehran regarding its negotiating stance.

On April 21, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bagae stated that Iran has not yet made a final decision on attending the Iran-U.S. talks in Pakistan. He attributed the delay to contradictory signals, inconsistent actions, and “unacceptable” behavior emanating from the U.S.

Meanwhile, according to The New York Times, although the diplomatic process is effectively stalled due to Tehran’s lack of response, Vance’s trip itself has not yet been canceled.

The New York Times pointed out: "As soon as Iran’s negotiators provide a response deemed acceptable by President Trump, the trip could resume at any moment. U.S. officials are also awaiting a clear signal that Iran’s negotiators have full authority to conclude an agreement."

Iranian diplomatic sources told Sputnik that Iran will not agree to resume negotiations while the U.S. continues to seize Iranian merchant ships and ignore relevant agreements.

The sources said: "How could we possibly expect Iran to agree to negotiations when the U.S. attacks Iranian merchant vessels, violates the ceasefire agreement, and refuses to even discuss its own actions?"

The sources emphasized that under these circumstances, it is unrealistic to assume Iran would agree to negotiations.

Iranian parliamentarian Ahmad Nadri believes that Tehran will not hold a second round of peace talks with Washington until the U.S. lifts the maritime blockade.

Earlier on the 21st, CNN reported that the second round of conflict resolution talks between Iran and the U.S. were set to take place in Islamabad on April 22.

Ahmad Nadri said: "As long as the maritime blockade remains in place, we do not plan to conduct a second round of negotiations."

Iran’s SNN TV reported Nadri’s comments.

Nadri pointed out that Iran did not send a negotiating delegation to Pakistan to participate in peace talks with the U.S.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bagae stated that Iran has not yet made a final decision on attending the Iran-U.S. talks in Pakistan.

Iran’s national broadcaster IRIB quoted Bagae as saying: "The final decision on whether to attend or not attend the Pakistan talks has not yet been made."

Bagae noted that the reason lies in the contradictory signals sent by the U.S., its actions, and its "unacceptable" behavior.

Source: sputniknews

Original: toutiao.com/article/1863117143412807/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author