Iran rejects new round of talks citing US naval blockade as key obstacle

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - TEHRAN — Iran has rejected the second round of talks with the US in Islamad, citing the US naval blockade as a key "obstacle".
US President Donald Trump, meanwhile announced that a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance will travel to Pakistan to pursue ceasefire negotiations with Iran, even as he warned of "severe consequences", including the bombing of powerplants and more bridges, if Tehran fails to agree to a "deal" before the ceasefire expires on Tuesday.
The US has maintained a blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran has lifted and then reimposed its own blockade on marine traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which typically handles roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply.
The US military said Sunday it had fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship as the vessel sailed toward Iran's Bandar Abbas port.
Iran's military said the ship had been traveling from China. "We warn that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy by the US military," a military spokesperson said, according to state media.
Iranian state media also reported that Tehran had rejected new peace talks, citing the ongoing blockade, threatening rhetoric, and Washington's shifting positions and "excessive demands."
"One cannot restrict Iran's oil exports while expecting free security for others. The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone," Iran's First Vice President Mohammadreza Aref wrote on social media.
Trump had earlier warned Iran that the United States would destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran if Tehran rejected his terms, continuing a pattern of such threats throughout the war.
Iran has said that if the United States were to attack its civilian infrastructure it would hit power stations and desalination plants of Gulf Arab neighbours.
The apparent diplomatic setback could set the stage for a renewed surge in oil prices when markets reopen after the weekend.
Now in its eighth week, the war has created the most severe shock to global energy supplies in history, sending oil prices surging because of the de facto closure of the strait.
Brent crude futures jumped about 7% to $96.85 a barrel and S&P 500 futures fell about 0.9% in early Asian trading, as investors dealt with conflicting messages about the war.
Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who has led Iran's side in the talks, had earlier said the two sides had made progress but were still far apart on nuclear issues and the strait.
European allies, repeatedly criticized by ⁠Trump for not aiding his war effort, worry that Washington's negotiating team is pushing for a swift, superficial deal that would require months or years of technically complex follow‑on talks.
Iran’s semi‑official Tasnim news agency reported that two liquefied petroleum gas tankers that attempted to transit the strait were turned back by Iran’s armed forces on Saturday. One of the tankers – the Angola‑flagged LPG tanker G Summer — later exited the Gulf on a second attempt, according to MarineTraffic vessel tracking data. — Agencies