Unclear prospects for a new round of US-Iran negotiations: Iran refuses to participate, two countries' navies clash

According to reports from multiple Iranian media outlets on the 19th, Iran has prepared for renewed conflict and refuses to participate in the second round of negotiations with the United States. On the same day, U.S. forces forcibly intercepted and seized control of an Iranian cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman. The Iranian military accused the U.S. of openly violating the ceasefire agreement and stated it would respond soon to this piracy act.

Uncertain Negotiation Prospects, Iran May Not Participate

Earlier on the 19th, U.S. media quoted White House officials reporting that Vice President Pence would lead a delegation to Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, to attend a new round of U.S.-Iran negotiations. President Trump posted on social media that the U.S. delegation would arrive in Islamabad on the evening of the 20th. In an interview with The New York Times, he said that if an agreement is reached between the U.S. and Iran, he would “most likely” go to Islamabad.

On April 19th, security personnel were on duty near Nur Khan Air Base in Pakistan. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Zeguo

Pakistani officials issued a notice on the same day, requiring government departments and agencies located in the “Red Zone” of Islamabad to work from home on the 20th, with all officials and secretariat staff remaining on standby at their posts. This move was interpreted as a response to a possible and sudden visit by Trump.

However, Iran’s Islamic Republic Broadcasting and Television on the 19th cited Iranian sources reporting that Iran has no plans to participate in the next round of U.S.-Iran talks. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that rumors about holding a second round of U.S.-Iran negotiations in Islamabad are false. The U.S. has made excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, and its stance has been constantly changing and contradictory, while continuing to impose a maritime blockade on Iran, which is viewed as a violation of the ceasefire agreement, and issuing threatening rhetoric, all of which have hindered progress in negotiations.

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that Iran believes the possibility of renewed conflict is higher than that of continuing negotiations and has made full preparations for this. In response to Trump’s repeated threats on the same day—“I hope they accept because if they don’t, the U.S. will destroy every power plant and bridge in Iran. The days of being easy to talk to are over”—Iran stated that if hostilities resume, Iran’s infrastructure would become targets, and Iran would completely abandon the restraint it previously maintained in the Strait of Mandeb and against energy companies and facilities in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Yanbu Heavy Industries Park, the UAE’s Fujeirah Port, and other regional energy enterprises.

U.S.-Iran Naval Clash in the Gulf of Oman

Although the U.S. claims to want to return to the negotiating table, it continues to impose maritime blockades and even uses force. On the afternoon of the 19th, U.S. Eastern Time, Trump posted on social media that U.S. forces had forcibly intercepted and seized control of an Iranian cargo ship attempting to break through the maritime blockade in the Gulf of Oman. The U.S. Central Command subsequently issued a statement and video, stating that the missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the Iranian cargo ship “Touska” crossing the northern Arabian Sea en route to Iran’s Abadan port, firing its naval guns at its cargo hold and causing it to lose propulsion. U.S. Marines then boarded and took control of the vessel.

Later, the Iranian armed forces’ Hatem Ansar Central Command issued a statement saying that the U.S. openly violated the ceasefire agreement by firing on a container ship heading to Iran in the Gulf of Oman, and U.S. Marines had boarded the ship. The Iranian armed forces then launched multiple drones to strike U.S. warships. Iran’s military stated it would soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy act by the U.S.

According to Iran’s Islamic Republic Broadcasting on the 19th, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy has designated a new shipping lane from south of Hormuz Island to south of Larak Island.

The report said this route is called the “Larak Corridor” and is not to be used without permission from the IRGC Navy.

Iran: The U.S. Must Accept a New Order in the Strait of Hormuz

According to the Islamic Republic News Agency on the 19th, Iran’s Islamic Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Chairman, Ebrahim Azizi, stated that the U.S. must accept the new order in the Strait of Hormuz.

This is a photo of the Strait of Hormuz taken on February 19, 2025. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Qiang

Additionally, Iranian parliament member Reza Kouchi said on the 19th that Iran is drafting a comprehensive law to manage the Strait of Hormuz. Under this law, Iran will prohibit goods and ships related to Israel from passing through the strait. Enemy ships are also not allowed to pass without permission from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. Ships from countries that have caused Iran damage must pay compensation before they can pass through the strait.

The UK-based maritime analysis firm VesselsValue released a report on the 19th stating that in the past 36 hours, 35 ships have turned back while attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz. (Reporters: Fang Sixian, Hu Ruoyu, Li Jun, Chen Xiao, Shadati, Gao Wencheng, Zhou Xiaotian; Video: Sun Shuo)