Why is Iran refusing to attend US talks in Pakistan?

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Iran Declines Talks with the US Amidst Port Blockade and Warship Incident

Iran has stated it is not currently planning to attend talks with the United States, citing the ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports as a significant obstacle. This stance has been further solidified by an incident where a US destroyer fired upon and seized an Iranian ship attempting to evade it, prompting warnings of retaliation from Tehran.
US Blockade and Seizure of Iranian Ship Cited as Key Obstacles

Iranian sources, as reported by state broadcaster IRIB, indicated no plans to participate in the upcoming round of Iran-US talks. News agencies Fars and Tasnim, citing anonymous sources, described the overall atmosphere as not conducive to negotiations, with the lifting of the US blockade being presented as a prerequisite for any discussions. State-run IRNA elaborated that the blockade, coupled with Washington's "unreasonable and unrealistic demands," created a situation where there was "no clear prospect of fruitful negotiations." The US naval blockade on Iranian ports is understood to be an effort to curtail Tehran's oil revenues. The Iranian-flagged cargo ship that was seized has been identified as the Touska.
Preconditions for Negotiations Remain Unmet

The context for these discussions is the impending expiration of a ceasefire that halted the Middle East war, with only one inconclusive negotiating session having taken place in Islamabad on April 11. Despite President Trump's ordering of US negotiators to travel to Pakistan and his public statements about offering a "fair and reasonable DEAL," Iran's position highlights specific grievances. The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, characterized the blockade as a violation of the ceasefire and an illegal form of collective punishment against the Iranian people.
Escalating Tensions and Unresolved Nuclear Standoff

Adding to the strained relations, Iran's central command centre issued a warning that its armed forces would retaliate against the US action, which they termed "armed piracy." This follows Iran's brief reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which was subsequently closed again in response to the continued US blockade. A central point of contention in past negotiations has been Iran's stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium. While President Trump had previously stated Iran agreed to hand over its enriched uranium, Iran's foreign ministry has maintained that the stockpile would not be transferred and its surrender had never been part of negotiations. President Masoud Pezeshkian has also publicly questioned the rationale for Iran relinquishing its "legal right" to a nuclear program.

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Why is Iran refusing to attend US talks in Pakistan?

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