Tehran has rejected new peace talks, counter to Trump's claims: Iran state media

islamic republic of iran ‌rejected young public security talks with the United States, its say intelligence agency reported on Sunday, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said he was sending envoys for talks in ​Pakistan and would launch new strikes on ​Iran unless it accepts his terms.

Trump posted on social media that his envoys would arrive in Pakistan on ​Monday evening for negotiations, a timetable that would leave only ⁠a day for ⁠talks to make progress ‌before a two-week ceasefire ends.

"We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out ⁠every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!"

Iran's official IRNA news agency cited no specific ‌source in its report that Iran had rejected the talks.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was at a standstill on Sunday after Iran reasserted control over the strategic waterway that is key to global energy supply.

Iran's top negotiator said recent talks with the U.S. Had made progress, while Trump cited "very good conversations" with Tehran.

But neither side offered any specifics and Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said the two remain far apart on nuclear issues and the strait.

On Saturday, Iran, which had earlier announced it would allow shipping to pass through Hormuz, reversed course, accusing Washington of violating a ceasefire agreement by maintaining its own blockade of Iranian ports.

Peace talks with Iran to resume Monday in Pakistan: Trump

After two Indian-registered ships reported being attacked on Saturday while trying to pass through the strait, shipping data showed traffic through the narrow waterway had come to a stop early on Sunday.

One China-owned tanker and an Indian-owned gas carrier were seen transiting eastbound early on Sunday morning. But they appear to have been turned back and no other vessels entered or left the Gulf after midnight GMT, according to MarineTraffic vessel-tracking data.

Now in its eighth week, the war has created the most severe shock to global energy supplies in history, sending oil prices surging because of the de facto closure of the strait, which before the war carried one-fifth of the world's oil shipments.

Meanwhile uncertainty surrounded Pakistani-brokered efforts to end the conflict, which has killed thousands since it began on February 28 with a wave of U.S. And Israeli airstrikes against Iran and which has spread to Lebanon.

Iran reimposes restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions with U.S.

Talks in Islamabad — the first direct negotiations between the United States and Iran in decades — ended with no agreement last week but preparations appeared to be underway for a resumption, ahead of the expected end to the ceasefire on Wednesday.

Rolls of barbed wire could be seen near the Serena Hotel where last week's talks were held. The hotel told guests on Sunday they would need to leave due to a government event, a hotel representative said, adding that no reservations were being taken until further notice.

In central Islamabad, there was a heavy police and army presence but the security protocols did not appear to be at the same level as they were before the first round, when Vance led the U.S. Delegation.

Pressure for a way out of the war has mounted on Trump as his fellow Republicans prepare to defend narrow majorities in Congress in the November midterm elections, with U.S. Gasoline prices high, inflation rising and his own approval ratings down.

Trump, who met senior national security aides at the White House on Saturday, said the U.S. Was having "very good conversations," but gave no other details. He later went to the Trump National Golf Club with top envoy Steve Witkoff, one of his Iran negotiators.

Iran chief negotiator Qalibaf told state media that the talks in Islamabad had made progress, but he added, "There is still a big distance between us.

"There are some issues on which we insist.... They also have red lines. But these issues could be just one or two."

On Friday, Iran had announced the temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following a separate U.S.-brokered 10-day ceasefire agreement on Thursday between Israel and Lebanon to end fighting between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah.

But it changed course on Saturday, after accusing the U.S. Of violating the ceasefire through a blockade on Iranian ports.

A statement from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran's navy was ready to inflict "new bitter defeats" on its enemies.

Trump, who called the Iranian move "blackmail," defended the U.S. Blockade and threatened "to start dropping bombs again" unless the countries reached a long-term deal before the ceasefire expires on Wednesday.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council said Tehran's control over the strait included demanding the payment of costs related to security, safety and environmental protection services, state media said.

Following Iran's reimposition of control on Saturday, at least two vessels reported being attacked while trying to transit the waterway. India summoned the Iranian ambassador in New Delhi and expressed deep concern that two Indian-flagged ships had come under fire in the strait, the government said.

U.S. Central Command said American forces were enforcing a maritime blockade of Iran but did not comment on the latest Iranian actions.

Tehran's reversal raised the risk that oil and gas shipments through the strait could remain disrupted just as Trump weighs whether to extend the ceasefire.

When American and Iranian negotiators met last weekend in Islamabad, the U.S. Proposed a 20-year suspension of all Iranian nuclear activity, while Iran suggested a halt of three to five years, according to people familiar with the proposals.

Iran's deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said no date had been set for the next round of negotiations, adding that a framework of understanding must be agreed first.

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