Iran refuses to send delegators for US talks in Islamabad

Iran has declined to send representatives to planned talks with US officials in Islamabad, dealing a setback to diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between the two countries.

The talks, scheduled for early April, were primarily to be mediated by Pakistan, with Egypt and Turkey acting as co-mediators.

On Friday (April 3), Iranian officials informed Pakistani counterparts that Tehran would not participate, citing key demands in US President Donald Trump’s peace proposal as unacceptable, according to Egyptian and Turkish officials.

US news outlet Axios reported that American officials had nearly finalised preparations for the talks, including a draft ceasefire plan offering a potential lifting of Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a truce.

Earlier, on April 1, Trump claimed on his social media platform that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had sought a ceasefire and was willing to lift the blockade.

Iran quickly rejected the claim, with a foreign ministry spokesperson calling it “false and baseless.”

Pakistan had led mediation efforts at Washington’s request, maintaining backchannel contacts with both sides since early March. A 15-point US peace proposal was delivered to Tehran via Islamabad in mid-March.

Iran’s refusal has effectively stalled the anticipated talks, casting doubt on immediate prospects for diplomatic progress.