Tehran accuses Washington of obstructing diplomatic path, Trump insists on 'total blockade'

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone call with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, during which he affirmed that current American actions are hindering any progress in the diplomatic path. Araghchi clarified that Tehran is currently studying all aspects of the situation to make a decision on the next steps, emphasizing that repeated violations by Washington weaken the chances of reaching a peaceful solution.

For his part, US President Donald Trump reiterated his hardline stance towards Tehran, confirming that he would not lift the blockade imposed on Iranian ports unless a new and comprehensive agreement is reached. Trump indicated via his 'Truth Social' platform that this blockade is causing severe damage to the Iranian economy, estimating daily losses at approximately $500 million, which he described as a figure the regime cannot bear.

In the context of field movements, informed sources reported that an American delegation is on its way to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, to participate in a new round of negotiations. This step comes at a time when Tehran insists that lifting the naval blockade is a fundamental and indispensable condition for participating in any direct or indirect talks with the American side.

Events are accelerating as the deadline set by Trump approaches, as he told international news agencies that the ultimatum directed at Iran to sign the agreement expires on Wednesday evening, Washington time. The US President warned that failure to respond to American demands would mean directly targeting vital Iranian facilities, while ruling out any extension of the current truce.

On the analytical front, political observers believe that indicators are increasing towards holding a final round of negotiations despite the limited time remaining. Experts point out that the diplomatic option is still preferred by both parties to avoid sliding into a comprehensive military confrontation, despite the 'brinkmanship' policy pursued by both the White House and Tehran at these critical moments.

Pakistan plays a pivotal role in trying to bridge the views between the two adversaries, making strenuous efforts to resume dialogue and avoid a new round of fighting in the region. Islamabad believes that stability serves the interests of the Gulf states and the entire region, which has prompted it to enhance security measures in the capital in preparation for receiving the negotiating delegations.

Internally, Iran is witnessing a divergence of views between a current pushing for the completion of negotiations, represented by President Masoud Pezeshkian and his diplomatic team, and another current showing rigidity towards American intentions. However, the hardline current does not entirely oppose the principle of negotiation, but rather seeks to raise the ceiling of Iranian conditions to ensure tangible economic gains in exchange for any political concessions.

In a dangerous field development, Trump announced that an American destroyer fired on the Iranian ship 'Tosca' after it ignored orders to stop while attempting to break the naval blockade. He explained that the operation resulted in a breach in the ship's engine room and its complete control, which was met with an official Iranian pledge to respond to this military escalation.

Internationally, Moscow entered the crisis, calling for restraint and maintaining the existing truce between Washington and Tehran. The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed in a statement the need to continue diplomatic efforts under Pakistani patronage, warning that the situation getting out of control could lead to an armed confrontation whose consequences for international peace and security cannot be predicted.

These tensions have directly reflected on global markets, with oil prices recording a significant rise due to fears of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz or disruption of energy supplies. In contrast, global stock exchanges witnessed a decline in their shares with increasing uncertainty about the future of stability in the Middle East and its impact on the global economy.

Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, is experiencing a state of security alert, as authorities have closed main roads leading to meeting centers and deployed military reinforcements and barbed wire. These measures are to secure the delegations participating in the anticipated negotiations, amidst international hopes that this round will succeed in defusing the escalating crisis.

Anticipation remains the order of the day until Wednesday evening, as the coming hours will determine the course of the relationship between Washington and Tehran for years to come. Either a political settlement will be reached that lifts the blockade and ends the tension, or a direct military confrontation will ensue that could ignite the entire region in light of explicit American threats to target Iranian depth.

Continued American violations of the ceasefire constitute a major obstacle to the continuation of the diplomatic process.