US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that negotiations with Iran over extending the current ceasefire are expected to resume on Tuesday. However, officials from the Islamic Republic signaled that they are not planning to send a delegation and expressed deep skepticism about whether any meaningful progress can be achieved.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that senior White House envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would travel to Islamabad for the proposed talks. He warned that if Tehran refuses to reach an agreement, the consequences could be severe, claiming that the entirety of Iran could face devastating military action.
Trump further suggested that key infrastructure targets, including bridges and power plants, could be struck if tensions escalate again. These remarks echo earlier threats to target civilian infrastructure—plans that were reportedly put on hold following the ceasefire agreement reached nearly two weeks ago. The temporary halt in hostilities is due to expire on Wednesday unless both sides agree to extend it.
The US president also reiterated his demands that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil transit route, and abandon its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Tehran has so far rejected these conditions.
Iran has consistently denied accusations that it is pursuing nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, concerns remain among Western powers due to its enrichment of uranium to levels beyond civilian use, restrictions placed on international inspectors, and the continued development of its ballistic missile program. Over the years, Iranian officials have also issued repeated threats against Israel, further heightening regional tensions.
Contradicting Trump’s assertions, Iranian state media reported Sunday night that there are currently no plans to participate in a new round of talks. The state broadcaster IRIB, citing official sources, confirmed that Tehran has not agreed to rejoin negotiations.
Earlier, the Iranian news agency IRNA criticized Washington’s approach, describing it as driven by “maximalist, unreasonable, and unrealistic demands,” along with frequent policy shifts and contradictions. It also pointed to the continuation of what it called a US naval blockade as a major obstacle to diplomacy, stating that under such conditions, the prospects for successful negotiations remain unclear.
Meanwhile, the Fars News Agency and Tasnim News Agency, citing unnamed sources, reported that Iran has yet to make a final decision on whether it will attend the talks. They noted that the overall atmosphere surrounding the negotiations remains tense and uncertain. According to one source quoted by Fars, lifting the US-imposed blockade on Iranian ports is a key precondition for any future dialogue. The blockade itself was introduced in response to Iran’s earlier move to close the Strait of Hormuz, further complicating an already fragile situation.
