A digital screen displays “Welcome to Islamabad” as Pakistan prepares to host the U.S. and Iran for the second phase of peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 21, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Iran said on Tuesday (April 21, 2026) the U.S. blockade of its ports and the seizure of an Iranian tanker by in the Gulf of Oman amounted to ceasefire violations, adding that it has yet to decide whether to join a new round of talks with Washington in Islamabad, even as President Donald Trump claimed that his team would “soon” hold negotiations with Tehran. Pakistan said it has made all arrangements for the talks, but has yet to receive formal confirmation from Iran about its participation, as of Tuesday (April 21, 2026) evening.
“Blockading Iranian ports is an act of war and thus a violation of the ceasefire. Striking a commercial vessel and taking its crew hostage is an even greater violation,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a social media post on Tuesday. “Iran knows how to neutralize restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying.”
Published – April 21, 2026 09:48 pm IST
