Iran blames US for collapse of Islamabad Talks as maritime blockade announced

ISLAMABAD: Iran on Monday accused the United States of derailing near-finalised negotiations in Islamabad, saying the two sides had been close to reaching an agreement before talks broke down.

In a statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had engaged in the dialogue “in good faith” to end the war, claiming both sides were “just inches away” from finalising an “Islamabad MoU.”

He alleged that the process was disrupted by “maximalism, shifting goalposts and a blockade” from the US side, warning that goodwill must be reciprocated. “Good will begets good will. Enmity begets enmity,” he said.

The remarks came shortly after US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it would begin enforcing a blockade on maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports, while exempting vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian destinations.

The latest round of US-Iran talks in Islamabad, mediated by Pakistan, concluded without a breakthrough despite multiple sessions and exchanges of proposals.

Although no agreement was reached, both sides indicated that diplomatic engagement would continue, leaving the door open for further negotiations.

The talks were part of wider efforts to halt the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began on February 28, under a fragile two-week ceasefire brokered earlier.