US seizes Iranian ship 'Touska'; Islamabad peace talks face uncertainty

TEHRAN: The peace talks scheduled for Tuesday have been thrown into uncertainty following the seizure of an Iranian cargo ship by US forces. This development comes as the temporary ceasefire between Iran and the US is set to expire on Wednesday. The US military intercepted the vessel, named 'Touska,' which was reportedly heading toward Iran in defiance of a naval blockade. While Iran launched drone attacks against US warships in retaliation, no damage has been reported.

Last week, the United States imposed a blockade on Iranian ports as a pressure tactic to ensure the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The Touska is the first commercial vessel to be seized since the blockade began. Under the current enforcement, the US Navy intends to intercept all ships travelling to or from Iranian ports through the Strait.

A US delegation led by Vice President J.D. Vance has already departed for the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, for the scheduled peace talks. However, Iran’s participation remains uncertain. Although reports suggested an Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf was expected to arrive in Islamabad today, the ship's seizure has reportedly led them to reconsider.

Despite the tension, US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran would participate in the talks. He stated that if an agreement is reached, he is prepared to meet directly with senior Iranian leaders.