Iranian lawmakers and officials are warning that a second round of US‑Iran peace talks, tentatively planned in Islamabad, could falter, as Tehran labels Washington’s negotiating demands as “unacceptable” and “excessive.” In a fresh blow to diplomatic efforts, a senior Iranian MP has declared that negotiations with the United States conducted under the shadow of military threats and ceasefire‑related violations would be “meaningless” and potentially harmful, suggesting that talks held while Washington keeps a naval blockade on Iranian ports would only “embolden the enemy.”
State media in Tehran say that what it describes as “maximalist” and repeatedly shifting US positions, along with continuing threats and the retained US‑imposed naval‑blockade‑style control over Iranian ports, have pushed the path toward a second round of negotiations close to collapse. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) and other semi‑official outlets have argued that the atmosphere for dialogue is “not very positive” and that, under current conditions, “no clear prospect for productive talks is envisaged,” directly linking the stalemate to Washington’s refusal to relax its maritime and sanctions‑linked pressure.
Pakistan, which has been acting as a mediator, has continued preparations in Islamabad for a potential second round of talks aimed at turning the current ceasefire‑linked window into a more durable agreement. Pakistani officials have said they remain in active contact with both Washington and Tehran, urging the two sides to return to the negotiating table before the ceasefire framework lapses. However, with Tehran publicly rejecting a second round unless what it calls “excessive US demands” are scaled back, and the US reportedly insisting on strict nuclear‑ and maritime‑security‑related conditions, the prospects of a breakthrough within the narrow negotiating window remain uncertain.