By Parisa Hafezi and Hatem Maher
DUBAI, April 20 (Reuters) – A ceasefire between the United States and Iran is at risk after the U.S. seized an Iranian cargo ship trying to break its blockade. Iran has vowed to retaliate and is currently unwilling to participate in new peace talks.
Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated that the U.S. is "not serious" about the diplomatic process. He confirmed that Iran would not change its stated demands and doesn’t recognize deadlines or ultimatums when it comes to protecting its national interests.
The U.S. had planned to begin negotiations in Pakistan just before the two-week ceasefire was set to expire, with significant security measures being prepared in Islamabad. However, Baghaei claimed the U.S. continues to hold "unreasonable and unrealistic positions."
A senior Iranian official informed Reuters that the ongoing U.S. blockade of Iranian ports undermines any chance for peace talks, emphasizing that Tehran's "defensive capabilities," including its missile program, are non-negotiable.
A Pakistani security source reported that Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan's key mediator, conveyed to U.S. President Donald Trump that the blockade is a barrier to the talks, to which Trump responded he would take the advice into consideration.
U.S. MARINES BOARD IRANIAN VESSEL
The U.S. has maintained its blockade on Iranian ports, while Iran has alternated between lifting and reimposing its blockade on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied gas supply.
As fears grew over the potential collapse of the ceasefire, oil prices spiked over 6%, and stock markets showed volatility due to concerns about limited maritime traffic in the Gulf.
The U.S. military reported it fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship heading to Iran’s Bandar Abbas port after a standoff lasting six hours. Video footage released by U.S. Central Command showed Marines descending onto the ship from helicopters.
Iran's military claimed that the ship had been coming from China and accused the U.S. of "armed piracy." They stated they were ready to confront U.S. forces due to what they called "blatant aggression," but were limited by the presence of crew members’ families on board.
China expressed concern about the "forced interception" and called on all parties to adhere to the ceasefire agreement responsibly.
For now, Tehran has rejected new peace talks, citing the ongoing blockade and Washington's changing positions and "excessive demands."
First Vice President Mohammadreza Aref remarked on social media, “One cannot restrict Iran’s oil exports while expecting free security for others. The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone.”
Trump previously warned that the U.S. would destroy all bridges and power plants in Iran if it did not accept his terms, reflecting a series of such threats.
Iran has responded by stating that if the U.S. attacks its civilian infrastructure, it would target power stations and desalination plants in neighboring Gulf Arab countries.
PREPARING FOR TALKS THAT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN
Trump announced that his envoys would arrive in Islamabad on Monday evening, just a day before the ceasefire ends.
A White House official indicated that the U.S. delegation would be led by Vice President JD Vance, who previously participated in the initial round of talks, along with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner. However, Trump later told ABC News and MS Now that Vance would not attend.
Pakistan, acting as the main mediator, remained prepared for the talks, deploying nearly 20,000 police, paramilitary, and army personnel throughout Islamabad, according to government and security sources.
Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who is leading Iran's side in the negotiations, stated on Saturday that while there had been some progress, significant differences remained on nuclear issues and the Strait.
European allies, often criticized by Trump for not supporting his military campaigns, are concerned that the U.S. negotiating team is pushing for a quick and superficial deal, potentially leading to lengthy follow-up talks.
The ongoing conflict, now in its eighth week, has created an unprecedented shock to global energy supplies, leading to soaring oil prices due to the effective closure of the Strait.
Thousands have been killed due to U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and an Israeli invasion of Lebanon, which are occurring concurrently since the war began on February 28, a situation that currently also holds a truce.
Iran has reacted to these attacks through missile and drone strikes against Israel and nearby Arab nations hosting U.S. military bases.
Key Gulf Arab countries have reported a 40% loss in their crude output in March.