The Iranian government announced on Sunday, April 19, 2026, that it has no immediate plans to send a negotiating team to Islamabad for a second round of peace talks, citing the ongoing U.S. naval blockade as an “insurmountable barrier” to diplomacy.

The decision comes as a blow to international mediation efforts led by Pakistan, which had aimed to de-escalate the devastating conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran that began earlier this February.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the Iranian negotiating team, led by Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, has underscored a firm stance: no face-to-face negotiations will occur as long as the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect. Tehran views the blockade, which was formally announced by the Trump administration on April 13, as a direct violation of the fragile 14-day ceasefire currently set to expire this Wednesday.

The diplomatic standoff has reignited tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. After briefly allowing tankers to pass on Saturday, Iran reversed course and reasserted control over the waterway, effectively halting global shipping in response to the U.S. refusal to lift its restrictions.

While Iran has stalled its mission, a high-level U.S. delegation reportedly including Vice President JD Vance and envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff is still scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on Monday. U.S. President Donald Trump has maintained a dual-track approach of public pressure and threats, warning on social media that failure to reach a deal could result in the destruction of Iranian “civilian infrastructure,” including power plants and bridges.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed he has been in constant communication with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in a desperate bid to “bridge the differences” before the ceasefire lapses. Despite the presence of U.S. officials in Islamabad, the absence of an Iranian counterpart suggests that any immediate breakthrough may rely on indirect messages passed through Pakistani intermediaries rather than the high-stakes, face-to-face diplomacy many had hoped for.