The United States and Iran have warned they are prepared for war as uncertainty grows over the fate of a fragile ceasefire and planned talks to ease tensions.
Tensions escalated on Tuesday as both countries exchanged accusations of truce violations while the clock ticked down on the ceasefire.
The White House said Vice President JD Vance was ready to return to Pakistan for a second round of negotiations aimed at ending the conflict that has shaken global markets.
However, Tehran declined to confirm participation, accusing Washington of breaching the truce through a blockade of its ports and the seizure of a vessel.
Rising tensions
Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accused the US of undermining diplomacy.
“By imposing a blockade and violating the ceasefire, Trump wants to turn this negotiating table into a surrender table or justify renewed hostilities,” Mr Ghalibaf said.
“We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats… we have been preparing to show new cards on the battlefield.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also warned they could target vessels attempting to pass through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz without permission.
US position
President Donald Trump accused Iran of harassing ships in the same waterway, a key transit route for global oil shipments.
He maintained that the US blockade was “absolutely destroying” Iran and would remain in place until a deal is reached over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
“We agreed to be there,” Mr Trump said regarding the Pakistan talks, warning that if the ceasefire collapses, “lots of bombs start going off.”
He also indicated it was “highly unlikely” the truce would be extended.
Economic and civilian impact
Oil prices dipped slightly amid cautious optimism over a possible deal, even as uncertainty persisted.
Residents in Tehran described ongoing hardship.
“Let’s see what happens by Tuesday,” one resident said, while another noted the “economy is horrible” under the combined pressure of war and sanctions.
Regional dimension
The conflict has also drawn in Lebanon, where a separate ceasefire involving Hezbollah remains fragile.
Fresh talks between Israel and Lebanon are expected in Washington, even as sporadic violence continues in southern Lebanon.
The United Nations Security Council has condemned the killing of a peacekeeper amid the ongoing tensions.
Nuclear dispute
A key sticking point in US-Iran negotiations remains Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium.
Mr Trump said retrieving the material after previous strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities would be “long and difficult.”
However, Iran’s foreign ministry rejected suggestions of transferring the stockpile, insisting the issue “was never raised” in negotiations.
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