The US–Iran tussle seems to not end, and the friction only keeps escalating, with diplomatic efforts now hanging in the balance. US President Donald Trump has cautioned that the conflict with Iran could intensify, warning that "lots of bombs start going off" if the ceasefire ends without an agreement, as uncertainty surrounds upcoming peace negotiations.
Speaking to PBS News in a phone call on Monday, Trump made it clear that military action could resume immediately if negotiations fail. "Then lots of bombs start going off," he said when asked about the consequences of the truce ending.
The future of the second round of peace talks, scheduled this week in Pakistan, has been thrown into uncertainty after Tehran threatened to skip the talks following the US seizure of an Iranian-flagged vessel near the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend. The already fragile two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran is set to expire on Wednesday, with US President Donald Trump indicating it is highly unlikely to be extended.
Iran said Trump is trying to turn talks into a “table of surrender” or justify renewed warmongering through blockade and ceasefire violations.
“We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield,” Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X.
He also warned Tehran has “new cards” if war resumes with the US and Israel, adding, “We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats…”
The Trump administration has said the US delegation would attend peace talks in Pakistan this week. The US president initially said talks in Islamabad would occur on Tuesday, but that date could be pushed back. Washington is again sending its team lead by Vice President JD Vance for the talks, which also include Trump's Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
An Iranian official told The Washington Post that Trump’s public tone and the US blockade are the biggest threats to talks. While both sides largely agree, Trump’s “maximalism” could derail progress. Pakistani mediators also urged softer rhetoric and framing Islamabad talks as a “win-win” for both sides.