President Trump appoints JD Vance to Pakistan for extended U.S.-Iran talks amid repeated infrastructure warnings regarding Hormuz

(SeaPRwire) –   President Donald Trump announced that U.S. negotiators would travel to Pakistan on Monday for further discussions with Iran, sparking optimism for an extension of a precarious ceasefire due to expire by Wednesday, despite an ongoing standoff between Washington and Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has not yet confirmed the talks, but its lead negotiator, Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, stated in a televised interview on Saturday evening that “there will be no retreat in the field of diplomacy,” while also acknowledging a significant divergence in positions between the two sides.

The White House confirmed that Vice President JD Vance, who led the initial round of significant direct negotiations last weekend, would head the delegation to Pakistan, accompanied by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Pakistani officials began enhancing security measures in Islamabad. A regional official involved in the mediation efforts indicated that preparations were being finalized by the mediators, and U.S. advance security teams were already present on the ground. This official spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the preparations with the media.

Iran reported on Saturday that it had received new proposals from the United States. It remains unclear whether either party has altered their stances on the issues that previously hindered negotiations, including Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, its regional proxies, and control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump’s announcement reiterated his threats against Iranian infrastructure, which have drawn widespread condemnation and warnings of war crimes. He wrote that if Iran does not agree to the U.S.-proposed deal, “the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran.”

Iran states transits through the Strait of Hormuz are ‘impossible’

Vessels continued to be unable to navigate the crucial waterway due to threats from Iran and a U.S. blockade on ships traveling to and from Iranian ports. Approximately one-fifth of the global oil trade typically passes through the strait, and the deepening global energy crisis was exacerbated as the conflict entered its eighth week.

Iranian officials maintained on Sunday that ships would not be permitted to pass while the U.S. blockade remained in effect. Qalibaf stated, “It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot.”

In his statement regarding the talks, Trump accused Iran of breaching the ceasefire by firing on ships transiting the strait. Iran has characterized the U.S. blockade as a violation, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei calling it an “act of aggression” on Sunday.

Iran had announced the reopening of the strait following a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon that took hold on Friday. However, Iran stated it would continue to enforce its restrictions there after Trump declared the U.S. blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches an agreement with the United States.

Following a brief increase in transit attempts on Saturday, Iran fired upon two merchant ships flying Indian flags, forcing them to turn back. This led India to summon Iran’s ambassador over the “serious incident.” India noted that Iran had previously allowed several ships bound for India to pass.

For the Islamic Republic, the closure of the strait—imposed after the U.S. and Israel initiated the Iran war on February 28 during negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program—is arguably its most potent leverage, inflicting political pressure on Trump. For the United States, the blockade constricts Iran’s already strained economy by cutting off its long-term revenue streams.

The war has resulted in the deaths of at least 3,000 people in Iran, over 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members across the region have been killed.

Given that the majority of supplies to U.S. military bases in the Gulf region are transported through the strait, Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over traffic through the strait until the war fully concludes, according to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council late Saturday. This entails Iran-designated routes, payment of fees, and the issuance of transit certificates.

The council has recently functioned as Iran’s de facto primary decision-making body.

Pakistan emphasizes diplomacy, and Iran issues a warning

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who spoke by phone with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday, stated that his country is working to “bridge” the differences between the U.S. and Iran.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told The Associated Press on Saturday that the U.S. is “risking the whole ceasefire package” with its blockade.

Khatibzadeh added that Iran will not surrender its stockpile of 970 pounds (440 kilograms) of enriched uranium to the United States, describing the idea as “a nonstarter.” The deputy minister did not comment on other proposals concerning the enriched uranium, only stating that “we are ready to address any concerns.”