Iran's supreme joint military command accused Washington on Monday of violating a ceasefire agreement after the USS Spruance opened fire on an Iranian merchant vessel in the Arabian Sea, south of the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. Marines subsequently boarding the ship.
"We warn that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and take retaliatory action", the Iranian military spokesman said.
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that the Navy had punctured the vessel's engine room before Marines took control, adding the ship was subject to U.S. Treasury sanctions due to a "history of illegal activity". Iran's semi-official Mehr agency confirmed the U.S. fired on the vessel but claimed Revolutionary Guard units forced American forces to withdraw.
No plans of peace talks?
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Bagei said there were currently no plans for a second round of U.S.-Iran peace talks, describing Washington's demands as "unrealistic".
"While emphasizing diplomacy and declaring readiness to negotiate, the United States simultaneously adopts a posture that in no way reflects serious engagement in the diplomatic process", Bagei said.
He listed the ship seizure, the blockade of Iranian ports, and delays in implementing a Lebanon ceasefire as "clear violations" of the truce formally in effect until Wednesday.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that U.S.-Iranian differences over Tehran's nuclear program persisted, and that Iran's "defense potential" — including its missile program — was non-negotiable.
Bagei stated that removing nuclear materials from Iranian soil had never been considered an option, and that Tehran's "nuclear achievements" must remain on its territory. "Regarding the protection of Iran's national interests, we do not believe in deadlines or ultimatums", he said.
Trump on Sunday announced U.S. negotiators would travel to Pakistan for a second round of talks and threatened to destroy Iranian bridges and power plants if no deal was reached. CNN, citing Iranian sources familiar with the negotiations, reported that Iran's delegation — expected to include Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf — was due to arrive in Islamabad on Tuesday. Iranian sources told CNN that Tehran expects a symbolic extension of the two-week ceasefire to be announced on Wednesday when it expires.
The passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world's oil transits, is among the topics on the agenda for Monday's talks. On Saturday, Iranian forces attacked two Indian vessels attempting to pass through the strait.
Germany and Belgium separately signaled readiness to join a post-war maritime security mission in the strait. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told ARD television that Berlin was drawing up plans to participate in securing the waterway, with a focus on minesweeping.
"When a lasting ceasefire comes, we will be ready to play a key role, particularly in mine clearance", he said, noting the German navy holds specialist expertise in that field despite being at its smallest size in postwar history.
Belgium has already redirected a minesweeper from the Baltic toward the Mediterranean. "We are ready to take responsibility in the Strait of Hormuz if needed", Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken wrote on X. Brussels has ruled out involvement in active hostilities and did not support U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
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Source: Polish Radio, PAP