Iran has not decided to attend next round of Islamabad talks

TABNAK, Apr. 20 - Iran has not yet made any decision about participating in a new round of Pakistani-mediated negotiations with the US in Islamabad

News ID: 7340

Date: 20 April 2026 - 14:43

Iran has not yet made any decision about participating in a new round of Pakistani-mediated negotiations with the US in Islamabad, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Monday, citing Washington’s contradictory actions.

Speaking to reporters at a weekly press conference, Esmaeil Baqaei said, “So far, we have not made any decisions regarding the next round of negotiations.”

Criticizing the United States for engaging in actions that contradict its claims of pursuing diplomacy, the spokesman said that from the very beginning of the ceasefire, Iran had faced “bad faith and constant complaints” from Washington.

The US initially claimed that Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire, despite Pakistan’s explicit assertion to the contrary, he explained.

Baqaei added that even after an understanding was reached, Iran encountered “maritime actions in the Strait of Hormuz,” including a US attack on an Iranian trade vessel on Sunday night, which he described as a violation of the ceasefire and “an act of aggression.”

He stressed that the US behavior does not align with its rhetoric, saying the inconsistency only deepens Iran’s mistrust toward the entire process. “Iran will make the necessary decisions about the future path with careful consideration of its national interests,” he added.

Addressing Washington’s approach to negotiations and the possibility of further attacks, the spokesperson said Iran cannot ignore the “very costly experience” of the past year. He stated that the United States had “betrayed diplomacy twice” and carried out attacks against Iran’s sovereignty and assets.

“All components of Iran are vigilantly monitoring any process,” Baqaei said, adding that even within diplomatic tracks, the country must remain cautious of the enemy’s plots.

The US and the Israeli regime launched a large-scale unprovoked military campaign against Iran following the assassination of then Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, along with several senior military commanders and civilians on February 28.

The attacks have involved extensive aerial strikes on both military and civilian locations across Iran, causing significant casualties and widespread damage to infrastructure.

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces carried out retaliatory operations, targeting American and Israeli positions in the occupied territories and at regional bases with waves of missiles and drones.

The war has been brought to a halt for two weeks after a Pakistani-mediated ceasefire on April 8.