Ceasefire collapsing? Iran refuses new round of talks after US seizes cargo vessel

Iran is not currently planning to participate in a new round of talks with the United States, state media reported on Sunday, as tensions escalated following the seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel by the US Navy near the Strait of Hormuz.

The development comes hours after US President Donald Trump said he was dispatching negotiators to Islamabad for a possible fresh round of negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.

According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces intercepted the vessel, identified as M/V Touska, on April 19 in the north Arabian Sea as it was heading towards Iran’s Bandar Abbas port.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance issued repeated warnings over six hours, stating that the ship was violating a US-imposed naval blockade. When the vessel failed to comply, the warship fired at its engine room, disabling it before US Marines boarded and took control.

“US Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in US custody,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, said the ship was under US Treasury sanctions and praised the Navy for stopping it “right in its tracks.”

The interception marks the first such action since Washington announced a blockade of Iranian ports.

Iran’s military condemned the move, calling it “armed piracy.”

State media quoted a military spokesperson as warning that Tehran would “soon respond and retaliate” against the US action. The vessel was reportedly travelling from China.

The incident has cast doubt over the fragile two-week ceasefire between the two sides, which is set to expire on Wednesday.

The US had earlier said a delegation would arrive in Pakistan on Monday for talks with Iranian representatives.

However, Iranian state media reports suggesting there are “currently no plans” to join the negotiations have put the proposed dialogue in jeopardy.

In a strongly worded message, Trump warned of severe consequences if Iran does not agree to a deal, including potential strikes on key infrastructure.

"My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan — They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"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."

Iran had briefly declared the Strait of Hormuz open for all commercial vessels on Friday, but reversed its position after Washington said its naval blockade would continue.

The disruption in the Strait, a critical global oil transit route, has already triggered one of the worst energy crises in decades, with concerns mounting over further escalation in the region.