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“We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats,” said Iran’s top negotiator, as a two-week ceasefire nears its expiration.
A container ship is seen in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, Apr 18, 2026. (Photo: AP/Asghar Besharati)
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21 Apr 2026 08:04AM (Updated: 21 Apr 2026 09:13AM)
The United States and Iran both signalled that they were ready for war as a fragile ceasefire teeters, with peace talks still uncertain after the US seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to run its blockade.
Washington said Vice President JD Vance was set to return to Islamabad for negotiations, but Tehran would not confirm its attendance, raising doubts over whether diplomacy can resume.
Both sides accused each other of violating the truce, with Iran vowing that it would not “accept negotiations under the shadow of threats”.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened to target vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz – a critical artery for global oil supplies – without permission, while US President Donald Trump accused Iran of harassing shipping.
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