Iran Signals Uncertainty Over Next Round of Talks with US Amid Rising Tensions

Tehran, April 2026 : Iran on Monday indicated that it has not yet decided whether it will participate in the next round of negotiations with the United States, citing what it described as “contradictory actions” by Washington.

Speaking at a weekly press conference in Tehran, Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said that no final decision had been made regarding future diplomatic engagement. He stressed that the situation remains under review as Tehran evaluates recent developments.

Baqaei criticised the United States for what he called inconsistent behaviour, accusing Washington of pursuing diplomacy while simultaneously taking actions that undermine trust. He said that since the beginning of the ceasefire, Iran has faced what he described as “bad faith” and repeated complaints from the US side.

He also pointed to disagreements over the scope of the ceasefire, noting that the US initially claimed that Lebanon was not included, despite statements suggesting otherwise. Such inconsistencies, he said, have contributed to growing uncertainty in the negotiation process.

Referring to recent maritime developments, Baqaei alleged that Iran had encountered hostile actions in the Strait of Hormuz, including what he described as a US attack on an Iranian trade vessel. He termed the incident a violation of the ceasefire and characterised it as an act of aggression.

The remarks come after Donald Trump stated on Sunday that US forces had intercepted and taken control of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship attempting to bypass a blockade in the Gulf of Oman. The differing narratives have further complicated an already tense situation.

Baqaei emphasised that such incidents deepen Iran’s mistrust and make it more cautious about engaging in further talks. He noted that Tehran would take any future decisions based on a careful assessment of its national interests and security considerations.

He also accused the United States of having “betrayed diplomacy twice” and of targeting Iran’s sovereignty and assets in the recent past. According to him, these experiences have made Iran wary of entering into agreements without firm guarantees.

The spokesperson added that while diplomatic channels remain open in principle, Iran is closely monitoring developments and remains vigilant against what he described as potential adversarial strategies. He underscored that all branches of the Iranian system are actively evaluating the situation.

The uncertainty surrounding the next round of talks highlights the fragile nature of the current ceasefire and the challenges facing efforts to stabilise relations. As tensions persist, the prospects for meaningful dialogue remain unclear, with both sides appearing cautious about their next steps.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)