Iran Refuses to Join Second Round of Talks; Donald Trump Again Issues Threat of Destruction

Washington/Tehran: An American delegation led by US Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad today. However, Iran has refused to participate in this meeting. US President Donald Trump has expressed anger over Iran’s stance and has issued a threat against the country.

Trump Threatens Iran
Amidst heightened tensions with the United States, Iran has refused to participate in the second round of direct talks scheduled to take place on Tuesday in Islamabad, Pakistan. Iran stated that its delegation would not travel to Pakistan. These talks had been announced by US President Donald Trump. He stated that the American delegation would arrive in Pakistan on Monday. Trump also issued a stern warning to Iran: if an agreement to avert war is not reached, Iran will be completely destroyed.

Why Did Iran Refuse to Join the Meeting?
According to the Iranian news agency IRNA, Iran decided not to participate in the talks due to America’s excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, contradictory statements, and the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Following Iran’s firm stance, the talks now appear likely to be cancelled. Nevertheless, efforts by Pakistan—which is acting as a mediator—and other nations are ongoing.

Regarding the incident involving gunfire directed at Indian vessels, Trump stated: “By doing so, Iran has committed a serious violation of the ceasefire; nevertheless, I believe I can broker a peace agreement. It will happen.” Trump added: “We are presenting a very fair and reasonable agreement to Iran. I hope they will accept it. There will be no further leniency. If Iran does not accept the terms, we will destroy its bridges and power plants.” Earlier, the White House announced that the U.S. delegation would once again be led by Vice President J.D. Vance, with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, serving as members of the team.

U.S. Minesweepers Retreated Within 15 Minutes Following Our Warning: Ghalibaf
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf stated, “The Strait of Hormuz is entirely under our control. We consider U.S. efforts regarding mine clearance (minesweeping) to be a violation of the ceasefire.”
Ghalibaf added, “During the previous negotiations, I told the U.S. delegation: ‘If the minesweeper advances, we will open fire on it.’ They requested 15 minutes to issue the order to retreat—and then proceeded to do exactly that.”

Who Is Trump to Deny Our Nuclear Rights?
In a significant statement, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian asserted, “Trump claims that Iran cannot exercise its nuclear rights. Who has granted him the authority to deprive a sovereign nation of its nuclear entitlements?”

Five U.S. Jets Arrive in Islamabad
Ahead of the proposed talks, five U.S. jets arrived in Islamabad on Sunday. The five aircraft carrying the official delegation are scheduled to arrive on Monday. In anticipation of the potential meeting, stringent security measures have been implemented across Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.