Mohammad Berger Ghalibaf, Iran’s chief negotiator, stated late Monday that Tehran is unwilling to engage in negotiations with the United States “under threats,” emphasizing that Iran is prepared to “reveal new strategies” as the cease-fire deadline looms and the outcomes of talks remain unclear.
In a message on X, Ghalibaf, who has been at the forefront of negotiations alongside Foreign Minister Abbas Aragushi, accused President Donald Trump of attempting to manipulate diplomacy into a tool for capitulation, due to ongoing pressure including a naval blockade from the U.S.
“With the siege and cease-fire violations, Trump aims to transform the negotiation dynamics into a surrender scenario or justify new military aggression,” Ghalibaf wrote, adding, “We do not condone negotiations entangled in blackmail, and in the last two weeks, we’ve been gearing up to unveil new strategies on the battlefield.”
His comments highlighted Tehran’s increasingly hardline stance, following earlier mixed signals on the same day that suggested negotiations might take place, but by evening, doubts were resurfacing.
A Pakistani official mentioned that, with mediation efforts ramping up as the deadline approaches, Islamabad received “positive signals” from Iran and was striving to arrange talks for “tomorrow or the day after.”
However, Iranian officials reported a different situation later that night. Spokesman Esmail Baghaei indicated there were “no plans” for resuming talks. He cautioned that ongoing cease-fire violations by the U.S. would lead to a “strong response” from Iran.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed similar sentiments, accusing the U.S. of sending “unproductive and conflicting messages” and suggested that Washington seemed to be aiming for Iran’s capitulation, which would never be accepted by the Iranian people.
Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh insisted that Iran would not compromise on anything beyond international law and stated that time pressure wouldn’t force any concessions.
Seyyed Mohammad Marandi, an Iranian political analyst, noted that there had been no inclination to proceed with discussions and advised U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance to reconsider a trip to Islamabad given the current climate.
Additionally, a report revealed that the situation is still developing as U.S. officials awaited final confirmation from the Iranian government. Sources indicated that Iranian negotiators faced significant pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps to take a firmer stance and insist on lifting the naval blockade before any negotiations.
The report also mentioned that the Iranian delegation was awaiting approval from the supreme leader, which was suggested to have occurred Monday night, but no public confirmation followed.
Axios stated that Vice President J.D. Vance was slated to leave for Islamabad on Tuesday morning, with sources differing on whether he would depart at that time or late Monday night, accompanied by special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Earlier, Trump had indicated Vance was heading to Islamabad, but reports later clarified he was still in Washington, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the negotiations.
The two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, announced by President Trump on April 7, is set to expire at 8 PM ET on Wednesday, creating a climate of diplomatic uncertainty.
In remarks on Monday, Trump reinforced that he had no intention of extending the ceasefire without an agreement, declaring such an extension “very unlikely.” He warned that if negotiations falter, “a lot of bombs will start going off.”
Trump also mentioned he felt “no pressure whatsoever” to finalize a deal, expressing that he was not in a rush to reach an agreement that wasn’t optimal. He cautioned that if Iran declined to negotiate, it would encounter “unprecedented” repercussions.
Rising tensions were accompanied by recent maritime incidents, including a U.S. interception of an Iranian-flagged vessel, which Tehran claimed was a breach of the ceasefire.
With both sides in a state of negotiation yet lacking clarity on the trajectory of talks, the diplomatic landscape is rapidly narrowing as the ceasefire deadline approaches, increasing the chances of hostilities resuming in the absence of an agreement.
