The Iranian government has declined to participate in a new round of talks with the United States scheduled for Monday in Pakistan, state television reported on Sunday, citing official sources.
This decision comes as the two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran is set to expire on Wednesday, during which Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey had been mediating efforts to reach a lasting agreement.
Iran renews missile defenses despite diplomatic overturesMeanwhile, Iran says it is rebuilding its missile and drone defense systems faster than before the February conflict with the United States and Israel, according to state-linked Nournews quoting Revolutionary Guard Aerospace Commander Madschid Mussawi.
Mussawi’s claims were accompanied by a video showing him inspecting an underground missile facility, though Reuters could not independently verify the assertions.
The February 28 strike by the U.S. And Israel had aimed to dismantle Iran’s rocket forces, but Tehran now insists it is restoring those capabilities at an accelerated pace.
Domestic stability efforts contrast with regional threatsOn the domestic front, Lebanon’s military announced it has reopened key southern roads, including the Chardali route between Nabatije and Mardschajun and the Tyre port to Burdsch Rahhal stretch, with a Litani River bridge expected to follow.
Israel confirmed it killed Hezbollah commander Ali Rida Abbas in Bint Dschbeil just before the current ten-day Lebanon ceasefire took effect, a claim Hezbollah has not yet acknowledged.
Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf told state television on Saturday evening that Tehran seeks a durable peace to prevent renewed war, even as the U.S.-Iran truce is expected to lapse next week.
In Yemen, the Iran-aligned Huthi movement warned of renewed attacks on commercial shipping and hinted at closing the Bab al-Mandab strait, urging U.S. President Donald Trump not to obstruct regional peace.
<!– wp:paragraph /> wp:paragraph /> wp:paragraph >Israel has reportedly divided southern Lebanon into three zones under its post-ceasefire control, designating a “red line” along the border where most structures are destroyed and no Hezbollah fighters remain, with Israeli troops holding fixed positions in some areas.
/wp:paragraph –>With direct talks now off the table and regional flashpoints persisting, the window for a negotiated extension of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire is narrowing rapidly.
/wp:paragraph –> <!– wp:paragraph >Mediators will continue to engage through backchannels, but Iran’s simultaneous military rebuilding and conditional diplomacy suggest it is leveraging the ceasefire period to strengthen its position rather than pursue concessions.
/wp:paragraph –> <!– wp:heading > What happens if the ceasefire ends without a deal? /wp:heading –> <!– wp:paragraph >Should the truce expire without renewal, the U.S. Has warned it would target Iranian power plants and bridges, even as Iran has signaled it may resume proxy-driven maritime disruptions through the Houthis or other allies.
/wp:paragraph –> <!– wp:heading > Why Iran is refusing talks now /wp:heading –> <!– wp:paragraph >Tehran’s refusal appears tied to its belief that the U.S. Is not negotiating in good faith, especially after Trump’s weekend threat to destroy Iranian infrastructure if a “reasonable deal” is rejected.
/wp:paragraph –> <!– wp:heading > How reliable are Iran’s military claims? /wp:heading –> <!– wp:paragraph >While Iran says its missile defenses are being restored faster than before the February strikes, outside verification remains lacking, meaning the pace of rebuilding cannot be confirmed independently.
/wp:paragraph –>
