'Excessive Demands, Unrealistic Expectations': Why Iran Rejected Second Round Of Talks With US

Last Updated:April 19, 2026, 23:55 IST

Iran’s media outlets have repeatedly stressed that the US's terms have not been conducive to a meaningful dialogue.

Iran on Sunday declined to participate in the second round of peace talks with the United States in Pakistan, as reported by the state-run IRNA news agency. This decision comes just days before the expiration of a two-week ceasefire between the two nations.

According to the state media, Tehran’s decision to opt out of the upcoming talks in Islamabad stems from what it calls Washington’s “excessive demands," and “unrealistic expectations" concerning the negotiations.

In its report, IRNA pointed to multiple reasons for Iran’s refusal to engage further in talks. These included the “constant shifts in stance" from Washington, its “repeated contradictions," and the ongoing US-imposed naval blockade, which Iran views as a direct breach of the ceasefire.

“Iran stated that its absence from the second round of talks stems from what it called Washington’s excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions, and the ongoing naval blockade, which it considers a breach of the ceasefire," the report stated.

The state media further claimed that the news of the scheduled second round of negotiations in Pakistan was not accurate, adding that it was part of a “media game" and “blame game" orchestrated by the US to pressure Iran.

The US had claimed that the second round of talks would begin in Islamabad on Monday, with President Donald Trump confirming the presence of American negotiators.

However, Iran’s media outlets have repeatedly stressed that the US’s terms have not been conducive to a meaningful dialogue. “The overall atmosphere cannot be assessed as very positive," an anonymous source close to the talks told Iranian news agencies, adding that lifting the blockade on Iranian ports remains a critical precondition for any further negotiations.

While Tehran has remained cold towards the prospects of a new round of talks, Trump took to his Truth Social account on Sunday to announce the planned diplomatic push, and also renewed his threats against Iran’s infrastructure, saying that the US was “going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!"

The US-Iran conflict, which escalated after surprise US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, has already led to significant casualties. While the ceasefire that was brokered by Pakistan on April 11 has temporarily halted hostilities, Iran remains dissatisfied with the terms of the US’s involvement in the conflict.

So far, only a single, 21-hour negotiating session was held in Islamabad, which ended inconclusively. As both sides gear up for the imminent expiration of the ceasefire, it remains unclear whether further diplomatic efforts will yield fruit.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s speaker of parliament, stated just days ago that the two sides were “still far from the final discussion," suggesting that prospects for a resolution remain distant.

(With inputs from agencies)

News world 'Excessive Demands, Unrealistic Expectations': Why Iran Rejected Second Round Of Talks With US

Read More