No talks with US; Iran to respond soon after seizure of ship

TEHRAN: As the US moves forward with plans to send a delegation to Pakistan, Iran has rejected US talks. It also warned that there will be 'new cards on the battlefield'. Iran has accused the seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz of piracy and said it would respond soon.

The Iran-US temporary ceasefire expires tomorrow. US attacked Touska ship that was sailing towards Iran in defiance of naval sanctions. Iran launched a drone attack on US warships, but there was no damage. The US imposed sanctions on Iranian ports last week as a pressure tactic to free the Strait of Hormuz. The Touska is the first commercial ship to be seized since then. US President Donald Trump said that the sanctions on Iranian ports will continue until Iran signs the deal. The US Navy will block all ships coming from or going to Iranian ports in Hormuz.

It was reported that an Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf was to arrive in Islamabad today. The decision was reportedly changed after the attack on the ship. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran would participate in the talks and was ready to meet directly with senior Iranian leaders if an agreement was reached.