The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is teetering on the brink of collapse as both sides exchange sharp warnings and cast doubt over renewed peace talks expected in Pakistan.
With the truce set to expire, uncertainty surrounds whether negotiations, initially announced by Donald Trump, will even take place, as Tehran has yet to confirm its participation and continues to accuse Washington of violating the agreement.
The White House said Vice President JD Vance is prepared to return to Islamabad for another round of talks aimed at ending the conflict that has rattled the Middle East and shaken global markets. However, Iranian officials insist that ongoing US actions, including a naval blockade and the seizure of an Iranian vessel, undermine trust and diplomacy.
Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accused Washington of attempting to strong-arm Tehran at the negotiating table.
“By imposing a blockade and violating the ceasefire, Trump wants to turn this negotiating table into a surrender table or justify renewed hostilities, as he sees fit,” he said.
“We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the last two weeks we have been preparing to show new cards on the battlefield,” he added.
Tensions have also intensified around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route, where Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned of targeting any vessel attempting to pass through without permission.
Washington, however, has accused Tehran of harassing ships in the key passage, which handles a significant portion of the world’s oil supply. The standoff has heightened fears of renewed disruptions to global energy markets.
Trump, in a series of remarks, insisted that Iran was expected to participate in the Pakistan talks.
“We agreed to be there,” he said, warning that if the ceasefire expires, “then lots of bombs start going off.”
He also signaled that extending the truce was unlikely, telling Bloomberg it was “highly unlikely” he would prolong the ceasefire beyond its current deadline.
Despite the rising tensions, oil prices dipped slightly on lingering hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough, while global markets remain cautious as the situation evolves.
On the ground in Tehran, residents say the ceasefire has brought only limited relief. “Let’s see what happens by Tuesday,” a 30-year-old doctor said anonymously, reflecting widespread uncertainty. Another resident, Saghar, 39, lamented the economic strain, saying the “economy is horrible.”
As the deadline looms, the future of the ceasefire and the prospects for peace, remain deeply uncertain, with both sides appearing poised for either renewed negotiations or a return to open conflict.
GUARDIAN/REUTERS/AFP