Image Credit: FAROOQ NAEEM / Contributor / Getty Images 
Iran’s refusal to attend the latest round of peace talks in Pakistan was just “posturing,” Pakistani sources have told The New York Post.
“Current hard stance is posturing to extract maximum advantage when second round happens,” one of the sources said, citing discussions with a spokesman from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
The source added that, as at Monday afternoon local time, Iran still had not decided whether to attend.
“For now, no decision has been taken about whether we will have a second round. Whenever we have a decision, we will share details.
“We are neither optimistic or pessimistic; rather, realistic.”
The first set of talks last weekend, led on the US side by Vice President JD Vance, reached a deadlock over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which thus far have been non-negotiable.
President Trump has refused to budge on his demand that Iran abandon its nuclear-weapons program.
On Friday, he said the Iranians had agreed to hand over all their stocks of enriched uranium.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, ““The U.S.A. will get all Nuclear ‘Dust,’ created by our great B-2 bombers — no money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form.”
The President went on to emphasize that the agreement with Iran to hand over its nuclear materials is not contingent on any other deal. He also said Israel would now stop its attacks on Lebanon, which have been a sticking point in negotiations with Iran.
“This deal is in no way subject to Lebanon, either, but the USA will, separately, work with Lebanon, and deal with the Hezboolah situation in an appropriate manner. Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!”
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran’s stockpiles of highly enriched uranium—Trump’s “nuclear dust”—remain buried after attacks on the country’s nuclear facilities in 2025 and during the current conflict.
US officials believe the material could be recovered and used to continue the manufacture of nuclear weapons.
The US Navy is currently blockading Iran’s ports on the Strait of Hormuz, in an attempt to force the Iranians to capitulate.
On Sunday, the Navy seized an Iranian cargo ship attempting to break the blockade.
The USS Spruance intercepted the Touska cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman after it refused to stop, despite repeated warnings.
“Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them,” Trump said on Truth Social.
“Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel. The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board!”
US Central Command posted a video of the Spruance opening fire on the ship after warning it, and of Marines boarding and seizing the vessel.
