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Tensions rise as Iran and US weigh new round of negotiations in Pakistan

Tensions between Iran and the United States have intensified following the US interception of the Iranian cargo ship Touska in the Gulf of Oman, which the US claims violated a naval blockade. President Donald Trump announced the dispatch of a delegation to Islamabad, led by Vice President J.D. Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, to continue peace talks scheduled for Tuesday. Despite US claims that the core structure of a deal is finalized, Iranian state media and officials have denied current plans to participate in new negotiations. Tehran insists that the lifting of the US naval blockade on its ports is a mandatory precondition for any dialogue. Meanwhile, Iranian officials expressed skepticism about the US peace efforts, fearing they may be a pretext for further military escalation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan confirmed his ongoing mediation efforts with regional leaders to maintain stability. The US has threatened to target Iranian infrastructure, including energy plants and bridges, should talks fail to resolve the nuclear program and naval security disputes.

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