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Iranian state media has dismissed reports suggesting that Iran has sent a delegation to Pakistan for talks, following the collapse of initial talks between the warring countries.
“So far, no delegation from Iran has departed for Islamabad, Pakistan; whether it is the main or subsidiary delegation, primary or secondary,” Iran’s state media said.
The United States (US) and Iran had agreed to a two-week ceasefire, but both countries began accusing each other of breaching the truce, which will end on Wednesday.
Initial talks in Pakistan began earlier in April. Analysts described the discussions as the highest-level discussions between the conflicting countries since the founding of the Islamic Republic in 1979.
US President Trump ordered a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran had restricted the movement of vessels from the onset of the war on February 28. The US said it turned back vessels from Iranian ports. Following this, Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz and said it would not open it until the US lifts its blockade.
The US President also accused Iran of firing on ships in the trade route. Iranian officials said the Trump administration has not acted in good faith in negotiations and refused to back down from what it called excessive demands.
A 39-year-old resident of Tehran, Saghar, told AFP that he and other residents are feeling the brunt of the ceasefire.
“This cursed ceasefire has broken us. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. The situation is terrible. I don’t know anyone around me who is doing well,” said Saghar.
Trump threatened to unleash more attacks on Iran if the ceasefire expired. The US President is also pressing for Iran to abandon its nuclear programme.
Daniel Byman of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies described the stalemate between the US and Iran as a struggle of political endurance.
“The current standoff between the United States and Iran is no longer a clash of capabilities but rather a struggle of political endurance and bargaining leverage,” Byman wrote in a commentary.
