Iran Willing To Attend Round Of Talks With U.S. In Islamabad, Pakistani Officials Say

Iran is willing to attend a new round of talks with the U.S. in Islamabad, Pakistani officials said on Monday.

Officials speaking to the Associated Press said there is cautious optimism about the possibility that a new round of talks takes place soon.

They refused to add details about potential travel plans due to security matters and urged media to avoid speculation about the timing.

Moreover, CBS News detailed that Pakistan’s Interior Minister met separately with the U.S. and Iran ambassadors.

The ceasefire between the countries is set to expire on Tuesday as tensions remain high. Optimism increased after Trump made a series of remarks suggesting the end of the conflict was near and that Tehran had agreed to several of Washington’s demands, including giving up its nuclear stockpile.

However, Iran rejected this during the weekend. Moreover, forces rejected a claim from Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about the Strait of Hormuz being open throughout the duration of the ceasefire and fired at vessels attempting to cross.

The U.S. also said it is maintaining its blockade of the key waterway as well. And seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship after attempting to bypass the blockade in the Gulf of Oman.

The development marks the first seizure of such a vessel since the U.S. blockade went into effect last Sunday. Trump said U.S. Marines disabled and seized the Touska after the “Iranian crew refused to listen.”

The Iranian military, in turn, accused the U.S. of “maritime piracy” and vowed to “soon respond.”

Tehran has also said it’s begun rebuilding its stockpile of weapons and munitions during the ceasefire.

Brig. Gen. Seyed Majid Mousavi, commander of the Revolutionary Guard’s Aerospace Force, said missile and drone launchers have been repaired since April 8, when the cessation of hostilities began.

“Our speed in updating and refilling missile and drone launch platforms is even greater than before the war,” Mousavi claimed.

Trump, in turn, threatened to strike infrastructure used with civilian purposes like power plants if talks are unfruitful or don’t take place at all.

“We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years,” Trump said.