US negotiations with Iran, under question. Vance has not gone to Islamabad and is participating in consultations at the White House
The second round of peace talks, due to take place in Islamabad these days, is uncertain amid tensions over the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and mutual accusations of ceasefire violations. US Vice President JD Vance was expected to leave for Pakistan on Tuesday morning, but is still in Washington for consultations, CNN reports.
According to sources cited by CNN, Iran explained the hesitations about participating in the negotiations by “contradictory messages, inconsistent behaviors and unacceptable actions of the American side.”
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the problem was not Tehran's unwillingness to negotiate, but a lack of clear signals.
“The reason is not indecision; it is about contradictory messages, contradictory behaviors and unacceptable actions of the American side,” Baghaei said, according to official Iranian media.
He added that Iran would make a decision on participation “whenever the negotiations become result-oriented.”
At the same time, the Iranian official harshly criticized the United States, accusing it of attacks on Iranian ships and violations of international law:
“A serious violation of international law, maritime piracy and state terrorism,” Baghaei said.
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz complicates negotiations
Sources close to the talks say that the American blockade on the Strait of Hormuz has increased the uncertainty regarding the resumption of negotiations. Iran had initially signaled it was willing to send a delegation to Islamabad, provided US Vice President JD Vance continued to lead the US team.
In this scenario, Tehran intended to send Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who also participated in the previous round of talks.
However, in recent days, Iran has called for the blockade of its ports to be lifted before any new round of direct negotiations, according to the same sources.
“We are open to real negotiations in Islamabad, but not if they are coercive,” Majid Ahmadabadi, Iran's ambassador to Germany, was quoted as saying by Iranian media.
Tense situation in Washington
In parallel, in Washington, the plans for the movement of the American delegation to Pakistan are still under question.
Vice President JD Vance, originally expected to leave for Islamabad, remained in the US capital for a series of emergency meetings at the White House.
According to some sources, Vance arrived at the White House on Tuesday afternoon, his trip being postponed, amid consultations regarding the next steps.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were also seen entering the White House 50 minutes before Vance's arrival, a sign that important talks were to follow.
At the same time, two of the main American negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, left Miami for Washington.
Flight data and air communications indicate that the government plane originally intended to transport them to Islamabad was instead headed for the US capital.
Trump is making the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz conditional on an agreement
US President Donald Trump said in an interview with CNBC that the United States will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until an agreement is reached
“We will not open the strait until we have a final agreement,” Trump said.
He added that Iran would have asked for the sea route to be reopened, but that Washington rejected that possibility in the absence of an agreement.
The Pakistani government has said it is still awaiting official confirmation from Iran on its participation in the talks. Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the situation remained fluid and that Islamabad was ready to host the talks if the parties confirmed their presence.
