in brief
- Iran has lifted and then reimposed its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, creating economic chaos.
- It's not clear if a planned second round of peace talks will go ahead on Monday.
Iran's foreign ministry said Monday that the United States was not serious about pursuing diplomacy, citing what it called "violations" of their two-week ceasefire, and said it had no plans for a second round of talks.
"While claiming diplomacy and readiness for negotiations, the US is carrying out behaviours that do not in any way indicate seriousness in pursuing a diplomatic process," said ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press briefing.
He said a US attack on an Iranian cargo ship on Monday, the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, and delays in implementing a ceasefire in Lebanon were all "clear violations of the ceasefire".
Iran has been at war with Israel and the United States since 28 February when strikes killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering a conflict that has engulfed the region.
Tehran and Washington have since held a round of negotiations in Pakistan which failed to culminate in a deal to end the war. It took place against the backdrop of a fragile two-week ceasefire which began on 8 April.
US President Donald Trump said Sunday he had ordered US negotiators to travel to Pakistan on Monday to hold another round of talks, but Iran has yet to confirm its attendance.
A White House official had said the US delegation would be headed by US vice president JD Vance, who led the war's first peace talks a week ago and also include special envoys Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Escalations over the weekend
Trump confirmed overnight that the US had seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to run its blockade, and Iran has said it would retaliate, raising the possibility that the ceasefire between the two countries might not last for even the two days it was set to remain in force.
"We have full custody of their ship and are seeing what's on board!" Trump said in a post on social media, adding that US forces blew a hole in the vessel's engine room.
Meanwhile, Iran announced it would refuse to join a second round of peace negotiations, despite Trump's warning of potential renewed airstrikes.
The ongoing maritime blockade, now in its third week, has continued to push global oil prices upward and shows little sign of easing, as Iran has lifted and then reimposed its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's military said the ship had been travelling from China.
"We warn that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy by the US military," a military spokesperson said, according to state media.
Iran's state news agency reported Iran had rejected new peace talks, citing the ongoing blockade, the US' shifting positions, and "excessive demands".
Trump had earlier warned Iran that the US would destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran if they rejected his terms, continuing a pattern of such threats throughout the war.
Iran has said that if the US were to attack its civilian infrastructure, it would hit power stations and desalination plants of Gulf Arab neighbours.
Pakistan, which has served as the main mediator, appeared to be preparing for peace talks between the two countries.
Peace talks
Trump had said his envoys would arrive in Islamabad on Monday evening, one day before a two-week ceasefire ends.
Two giant US C-17 cargo planes landed at an air base on Sunday afternoon, carrying security equipment and vehicles in preparation for the US delegation's arrival, two Pakistani security sources said.
Municipal authorities in the capital city of Islamabad halted public transport and heavy-goods traffic.
Barbed wire was rolled out near the Serena Hotel, where last week's talks were held. The hotel has told all guests to leave.
The apparent diplomatic setback set the stage for a renewed surge in oil prices when markets reopened after the weekend.
Now in its eighth week, the war has created the most severe shock to global energy supplies in history, sending oil prices soaring because of the de facto closure of the strait.
Thousands of people have been killed by US-Israeli strikes on Iran and in an Israeli invasion of Lebanon conducted in parallel since the war began, after the Iran-back Hezbollah group struck Israel in retaliation.
Iran has responded to the US and Israeli attacks with missiles and drones against its Arab neighbours that host US bases.
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