Tehran Rejects Second Round of U.S. Talks as Maritime Siege Intensifies in the Strait of Hormuz

Tehran denies agreeing to a second round of Islamabad talks, while Deputy FM Khatibzadeh warns the US cannot "impose its will" through a naval blockade.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 7:55 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from AFP

Diplomatic Standoff Deepens as Talks Denied

The prospect of a diplomatic resolution to the seven-week "Iran war" faced a significant setback this Saturday as Iranian state-affiliated media dismissed reports of an upcoming summit. Citing "relevant authorities," the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran has not consented to a second round of high-level negotiations with the United States in Islamabad. This denial directly counters the narrative from the White House, where President Donald Trump had previously indicated that negotiations were expected to proceed over the weekend. The lack of consensus on the meeting's schedule highlights a persistent failure in communication between the two warring powers, even as a fragile 10-day ceasefire enters its final days.

The "Good Intentions" vs. Naval Blockade Conflict

Speaking on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh issued a stern warning regarding the maritime situation. Khatibzadeh told journalists that the United States is attempting to "impose its will" by maintaining a naval siege of Iranian ports while Tehran is ostensibly trying to facilitate safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Iranian diplomat, the U.S. strategy of "maximum pressure" is incompatible with the "good intentions" required for a stable maritime corridor. He emphasized that Iran will not accept a reality where international shipping is protected by a U.S.-led coalition while Iranian commercial interests remain under an American military blockade.

Reasserting Military Control Over the Strait

The diplomatic freeze coincided with a rapid reversal of maritime policy in the Persian Gulf. After briefly opening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic earlier in the week, the Iranian joint military command announced on Saturday morning that the waterway had returned to its "previous state" of strict military management. This move effectively closes the strait to most international transit once again, specifically targeting vessels linked to what Tehran labels "hostile forces." The Iranian military cited the ongoing U.S. blockade of its domestic ports as the primary rationale for the closure, linking the freedom of global energy shipments directly to the lifting of American naval restrictions.