Iran 'REJECTS second round of peace talks with the US'
by LETTICE BROMOVSKY, NEWS REPORTER · Mail OnlineIran has reportedly rejected a second round of peace talks with the US after Donald Trump said a fresh round of negotiations would take place on Monday.
Tehran accused the US of 'excessive demands' and blamed its ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz for its absence, according to Iran's state IRNA news agency.
The regime blamed 'Washington's excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions, and the ongoing naval blockade' for its refusal to negotiate, the agency reported.
It comes just a day before US Vice President JD Vance was due to arrive in Pakistan for peace talks as a fragile two-week ceasefire continues.
Earlier the US President threatened Iran for allegedly breaking the ceasefire by firing bullets at European ships in the Strait of Hormuz - although the Ministry of Defence said there had been no reports of such an attack.
Trump warned he would order the US military to 'knock out every single power plant and every single bridge' in Iran if they refuse the next peace deal.
22:01
Trump's troops blow hole in Iranian cargo ship attempting to get through US blockade: 'We gave them fair warning'
American troops have blown a hole through an Iranian cargo ship after it attempted to pass through the US blockade of the country's coastline, according to Donald Trump.
The US President touted the attack via Truth Social on Sunday ahead of planned peace talks between negotiators from the US and Iran in Pakistan on Monday.
He wrote: 'Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them.
'Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel. The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity.
'We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board!'
- Read more here
21:55
Iran has 'no plans to participate' in peace talks, officials say
Iranian officials have claimed that Tehran has 'no plans for now to participate' in the next round of peace talks with the US, the country's state TV news channel has reported.
The channel quotes officials who say that 'continuation of the so-called naval blockade, violation of the ceasefire and threatening US rhetoric' have stopped progress in negotiations.
Donald Trump originally said talks would continue in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, on Monday but Iran appears unlikely to join.
21:38
US issued 'multiple warnings' to seized Iranian ship over six hours
The US military issued 'multiple warnings' over a six hour period to the Iranian vessel it seized.
The Touska ship was intercepted by the USS Spruance, a guided missile destroyer, while sailing towards the Iranian pot of Bandar Abbas, US Central Command said.
It added: US forces operating in the Arabian Sea enforced naval blockade measures against an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, April 19.
'Guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted M/V Touska as it transited the north Arabian Sea at 17 knots enroute to Bandar Abbas, Iran. American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it was in violation of the US blockade.
'After Touska’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room. Spruance disabled Touska’s propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska’s engine room. US Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in U.S. custody.
American forces acted in a deliberate, professional, and proportional manner to ensure compliance. Since the blockade’s commencement, US forces have directed 25 commercial vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port.'
21:11
Iranian ship passed through US blockade, state media claims
An Iranian ship made its way through the Strait of Hormuz despite the US blockade on the waterway, according to Iranian state media.
The state affiliated Fars news agency said an Iranian-flagged oil tanker passed the blockade and successfully entered Iranian waters.
It contradicts Donald Trump's claim that the US has taken custody of an Iranian vessel after it tried to get past the naval blockade.
20:46
French vessel faced gunfire in Strait of Hormuz, shipping company says
A French shipping company has said one of its vessels faced gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz yesterday.
CMA CGM said a ship from its fleet was subject to 'warning shots' in the strait.
The ship's crew is safe, the company added.
The statement confirms comments made by Donald Trump on Truth Social earlier, in which he said 'a French Ship' was among the vessels fired at in the strait.
20:22
British military escalates threat assessment for Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf to 'Critical'
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued the warning on Sunday, citing a 'high level of activity by naval forces in the region.'
The agency cautioned that the current environment creates a severe 'risk of attack or miscalculation' for all commercial shipping.
The Iranian navy reimposed its restrictions on transit through the strait as the US military implemented a blockade on Iranian ports.
The UKMTO also cited multiple attacks on Saturday by Iranian forces on vessels passing through the strait.
19:33
US has 'custody' of Iranian ship after 'blowing hole' in vessel, says Trump
Donald Trump has claimed the US has taken custody of an Iranian ship after it tried to get past the naval blockade.
He said the navy blew a hole in the ship's engine room after the US-sanctioned vessel refused to stop at the US' demand.
In a post on Truth Social, the US President wrote: 'Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them.
'The U.S. Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS SPRUANCE intercepted the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman, and gave them fair warning to stop. The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom.
'Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel. The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board! President DONALD J. TRUMP.'
19:25
TUI ships pass through Strait of Hormuz
Two TUI cruise ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
The travel operator said: 'Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 have successfully passed the Strait of Hormuz.
TUI did not say when they navigated through but ships are now travelling to the Mediterranean
It added: 'The passage took place based on the relevant coordination and approvals from the authorities, in a controlled manner and with careful consideration of the security situation.'
19:05
WATCH: Pope Leo praises ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon
18:42
War is 'not over yet', says Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu has said the war with Iran is not over yet despite the ongoing ceasefire.
Israel is also observing a 10-day truce with Lebanon as well as a pause in fighting with Iran.
Speaking during the visit of Argentina's President Javier Milei to Jerusalem, the Israeli Prime Minister warned the conflict is far from over.
He said: 'We have been engaged with the United States in a battle against the Great Tyranny of Iran, which terrorizes the world, which seeks our destruction and seeks to bring down the United States, seeks to bring down Western civilization as we know it.
'We have achieved enormous things. It's not over yet. And any moment could bring us new developments.'
18:25
Latest updates
As the fragile two-week ceasefire continues:
- Iran has reportedly rejected a second round of peace talks with the US, blaming Washington for 'excessive demands'
- Donald Trump earlier said a new round of 'negotiations' would be taking place on Monday and warned he would 'knock out' Iran's power plants and bridges if Tehran did not agree to a deal
- He claimed a delegation, including JD Vance, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kusher, was being sent to Pakistan for peace talks
- The Strait of Hormuz remains shuts after some vessels were attacked by Iran on Saturday
- Pope Leo XIV has praised the ceasefire amid his ongoing feud with Trump
18:05