Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Apr 20: Iran has stated that it has not yet decided whether it will participate in the next round of negotiations with the United States, citing what it described as “contradictory actions” from Washington that undermine diplomatic efforts.

Speaking at a weekly press briefing in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said no final decision has been taken regarding future talks with the US.

He criticised Washington, accusing it of pursuing conflicting policies while publicly claiming to support diplomacy. Baqaei alleged that Iran has faced “bad faith and constant complaints” from the US since the beginning of the ceasefire process, adding that trust in negotiations has been steadily eroded.

He further claimed that despite initial US assurances that Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire understanding, subsequent developments contradicted those statements. He also referred to reported maritime incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, including what he described as a US strike on an Iranian commercial vessel.

According to Baqaei, these actions amount to violations of agreements and represent “acts of aggression,” further deepening mistrust between the two sides.

The remarks came after statements from US President Donald Trump, who said US forces had intercepted and taken control of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman that allegedly attempted to bypass a US blockade.

Baqaei warned that such developments would influence Iran’s assessment of future diplomatic engagement, stating that Tehran would make decisions based on its national interests and a careful evaluation of risks.

He added that Iran believes the US has “betrayed diplomacy twice” and has acted against its sovereignty and assets. While not ruling out diplomatic channels entirely, he stressed that Iran remains cautious and is closely monitoring all developments, with national institutions keeping a close watch on the evolving situation.