Iran Not Planning to Attend Talks in Pakistan: Impact on Middle East Stability

Tehran has confirmed it will not send a delegation to the second round of peace talks with the United States in Pakistan, throwing a fragile ceasefire into doubt and sending oil prices surging. Iranian state media cited Washington’s “excessive demands” and a naval blockade of its ports as the primary reasons for the refusal to attend.

The development comes just days before a two-week ceasefire—sparked by a surprise US-Israeli offensive on February 28—is set to expire. Tensions have been further inflamed by a US Navy destroyer firing on and seizing an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that reportedly tried to evade the blockade on Sunday. Tehran has vowed to retaliate against what it called “armed piracy,” as its Revolutionary Guards Corps reasserted strict control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for one-fifth of the world’s oil.

The diplomatic standoff risks escalating the conflict. President Donald Trump, who is sending special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad regardless of Tehran’s absence, threatened that if no deal is reached, the US would “knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran”. The situation has already caused global market shock, with West Texas Intermediate surging 7.5% and Brent crude gaining 6.5% on Monday morning.

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