TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – U.S. President Donald Trump said he will send a delegation to Islamabad on Monday, April 20, 2026, to explore the possibility of further negotiations related to the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, as a two-week ceasefire approaches its expiration next Wednesday.
According to Al Jazeera, Trump announced the plan via social media on Sunday, April 19. He did not specify which officials would be dispatched for what would be a second round of face-to-face talks. The initial negotiations, led by Vice President JD Vance, ended without agreement last week.
Iran Rejects Second Round
Following the announcement, Iran indicated it has not decided to send a delegation to Pakistan as long as a U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports remains in place.
“Iran stated that its absence from the second round of talks stems from what it called Washington's excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions, and the ongoing naval blockade, which it considers a breach of the ceasefire,” Islamic Republic News Agency reported, as cited by France 24.
Iran signaled it would not participate in the new talks, hours after Trump said envoys would be sent to Pakistan and warned of military action if Tehran rejected the proposed terms.
Trump Issues Fresh Threat
Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire by opening fire in the Strait of Hormuz last Saturday. He also warned that the United States could target Iran’s civilian infrastructure if no agreement is reached.
“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.
In a separate post, Trump said the U.S. military had seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship. “We have full control of their ship, and we are seeing what is inside,” he wrote.
The U.S. military said it has forced 23 vessels to turn back since the blockade began. United States Central Command stated that operations are ongoing against ships entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the naval blockade as unlawful. Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described it as a violation of the Pakistan-mediated ceasefire and a criminal act.
“The United States’ so-called ‘blockade’ of Iran’s ports or coastline is not only a violation of Pakistani-mediated ceasefire but also both unlawful and criminal,” he said, adding that the measure amounts to collective punishment and could constitute war crimes.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy said the Strait of Hormuz was reclosed less than 24 hours after briefly reopening and will remain shut until the blockade is lifted. Before the conflict, the route handled roughly one-fifth of global oil supply.
Speaker of Iran’s Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said major gaps remain in the negotiations. “There are many gaps and some fundamental points remain,” he said. “We are still far from the final discussion.”
Read: Iran Rejects Second Round of Talks with the United States
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
