The main sticking points remain Iran’s nuclear program, particularly its stockpile of enriched uranium, and control over the Strait of Hormuz.
“There is still a big distance between us,” said Qalibaf, Iran’s chief negotiator, while insisting that Iran remained committed to diplomacy.
Security measures were tightened in Islamabad ahead of the expected talks, with Pakistani authorities restricting movement near the site of last week’s discussions.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday that American forces were continuing to enforce the naval blockade, with 23 ships complying with orders to turn around since it began. The U.S. military is now preparing to board Iran-linked oil tankers and seize commercial vessels in international waters in the coming days, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials.
The standoff has intensified pressure on negotiations aimed at ending a conflict that began on Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran over its nuclear and missile programs. The war has since killed several thousand people across Iran, Lebanon and other parts of the region and displaced millions.
