WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on Tuesday blamed Iran for ceasefire violations amid uncertainty over peace talks. “Iran has violated the ceasefire numerous times,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Meanwhile, US forces boarded a sanctioned tanker without incident in the Indo-Pacific region as part of its efforts to disrupt vessels providing material support to Iran, the Pentagon said in a post on X. “Overnight, US forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the stateless sanctioned M/T Tifani without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility,” it said.
US to Pursue Global Maritime Enforcement
The Pentagon further stated that, as previously made clear, the US would pursue global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit networks and intercept sanctioned vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate. “International waters will not serve as a refuge for sanctioned vessels. The Department of Defence will continue to prevent illicit actors and their vessels from operating freely in the maritime domain,” said the statement.
US Positive on Iran Deal but Talks Still Uncertain
The United States expressed confidence that peace talks with Iran would go ahead in Pakistan, and a senior Iranian official said Tehran was considering joining, but significant hurdles and uncertainty remained as the end of a ceasefire approached.
US President Donald Trump wants an agreement that would prevent further oil price rises and stock market shocks but has insisted Iran cannot have the means to develop a nuclear weapon. Tehran hopes to leverage its control of the Strait of Hormuz to strike a deal that averts a restart of the war, eases sanctions, but does not impede its nuclear program.
Iranian Official Says Participation Under Review
The Iranian official, speaking to Reuters, said Tehran was “positively reviewing” its participation in talks, despite earlier ruling them out, but stressed no decision had been made. Officials in Islamabad caution that the situation remains fluid amid heated rhetoric from both Washington and Tehran. According to people familiar with the plans, Vice President Vance is expected to depart Washington on Tuesday.
Talks Tentatively Scheduled for Wednesday
The second round of negotiations is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday (tomorrow), they said. However, the White House has not formally confirmed the timing but has indicated that the delegation is expected to travel soon. “Things are moving forward, and the talks are on track for tomorrow,” the source said on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity.
No Iranian Delegation Has Travelled Yet
No Iranian delegation has travelled to Pakistan so far to hold another round of talks with the US, Iran’s state-run broadcaster IRIB reported on Tuesday. “So far, no Iranian delegation has travelled to Islamabad, Pakistan—neither the main delegation nor any subsidiary, primary, or secondary delegation,” the broadcaster said.
IRIB added that multiple media reports that an Iranian delegation would travel to Pakistan or that talks were scheduled for Monday evening or Tuesday morning “were untrue.” The report also cited Iranian officials’ remarks from Sunday evening, indicating that “continuing participation in talks depends on changes in the behavior of the Americans” and that Tehran rejects negotiations “under the shadow of threats.”
Iranian Tanker Bypasses US Blockade
Iran’s army said on Tuesday an Iranian tanker managed to enter the country’s territorial waters last night, despite repeated “threats” from the US military, according to Al Jazeera. “Despite multiple warnings and threats from the naval task force of the U.S. Army … the Iranian oil tanker Sili City, with the operational support of the Army Navy … entered Iranian territorial waters last night after passing through the Arabian Sea,” the army’s public relations office said.
Iran Condemns US Seizure of Cargo Ship
Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned the recent seizure by US forces of a cargo ship allegedly attempting to evade a blockade on Iranian ports. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns the unlawful and violent action of the US ‘terrorist army’ in attacking the Iranian commercial vessel ‘Touska,’ which took place on Sunday,” the ministry said in a statement.
Calling the incident a “form of maritime piracy and a terrorist act,” the statement said it violated international law, as well as a two-week ceasefire with the US that began on April 7. It demanded the release of the Iranian-flagged vessel as well as its crew and their families.
Israeli Forces Fire Artillery, Level Homes in Southern Lebanon
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported several new Israeli attacks in the south of Lebanon despite an ongoing ceasefire, according to Al Jazeera. The NNA said Israeli forces fired artillery near the town of Kounin in Bint Jbeil district. It also reported a series of Israeli demolitions across the south, targeting homes, buildings and other infrastructure. The report added that Israeli forces “booby-trapped” numerous homes in the villages of Beit Lif, Shamaa, Bayada, and Naqoura, levelling them.
Trump Says Recovery of Iran’s Enriched Uranium Will Be ‘Long and Difficult’
US President Donald Trump said Monday that taking Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile will require a “long and difficult process.” “Operation Midnight Hammer was a complete and total obliteration of the Nuclear Dust sites in Iran,” Trump said, referring to the June 2025 strikes he ordered on Iran’s nuclear facilities. “Therefore, digging it out will be a long and difficult process,” he added.
Oil Prices Down on Talks Optimism
Oil prices fell, and stocks bounced back in early trading in Asia on Tuesday on the expectation that US-Iran peace talks will resume this week, after earlier meetings in Islamabad broke down without an agreement. Oil prices had jumped around 6% in Monday trading on doubts over the talks.
Brent crude futures declined 54 cents, or 0.6%, to $94.94 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate for May fell $1.11, or 1.2%, to $88.50.
‘They’re Going to Negotiate,’ Trump Says
Trump, on the John Fredericks Media Network on Monday, said Iran would negotiate but reiterated Washington would not allow Tehran to develop a nuclear weapon. “They’re going to negotiate, and hopefully they’ll make a fair deal, and they’ll build their country back up, but they will not have – when they do it – they will not have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.
Pakistan Preparing for Talks
Pakistan has set the stage for a high-stakes second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, likely to take place just hours before a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire expires on Wednesday. Despite lingering uncertainty surrounding ‘Islamabad Round 2’ due to Iran’s reluctance to formally confirm its participation, a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance is set to travel to the federal capital along with senior officials.
Even hours after the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tehran had not yet decided whether to join the talks, US military aircraft were seen landing at Nur Khan Airbase, indicating that preparations were moving ahead regardless of the public posture.
Analysis: A Critical Moment
As the ceasefire deadline approaches, the situation remains highly fluid. Trump’s accusation that Iran has violated the ceasefire numerous times, combined with the US seizure of an Iranian vessel and Iran’s condemnation of the action, has raised tensions.
Iran’s refusal to confirm participation in the second round of talks, and its condition that negotiations cannot occur “under the shadow of threats,” suggests that Tehran is holding out for US concessions — specifically, an end to the blockade.
The US, for its part, has invested significant resources in preparing for the talks, with advance teams already in Islamabad and Vance reportedly on his way.
The next 24 hours will determine whether the second round proceeds — and whether the ceasefire is extended or expires, potentially leading to a resumption of hostilities.
