US and Iran conduct mutual security drills, prospects for peace talks in Pakistan remain uncertain

As the ceasefire deadline approaches, the United States and Iran warned each other on Monday that they are ready for war and the prospects of resuming negotiations are uncertain.

AFP reported that the White House said Vice President Pence is ready to fly to Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, again. Islamabad is also clearly preparing for the second round of negotiations.

The US news website Axios quoted a source as saying that Vance will travel to Pakistan on Tuesday (April 21st) to hold discussions on the issue of Iran.

However, the Iranian government refused to confirm whether it would participate in the negotiations, and accused the United States of violating the ceasefire agreement by blocking Iranian ports and seizing a vessel.

Iran's Speaker of Parliament, Ghalibaf, posted a message on social media early Tuesday morning, saying that US President Trump is attempting to turn the negotiation table into a "surrender table" by imposing blockades and violating the ceasefire agreement, or seeking excuses to reignite the war. However, Iran will not accept coercion.

He emphasized that Iran will not accept negotiations conducted under the shadow of threats, and is ready to "play a new card" on the battlefield.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has warned that it will crack down on any ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without permission.

Trump also accused Tehran of violating the ceasefire agreement, claiming that the Iranian side had harassed ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a series of angry posts published on Trump's social media platform, he insisted that the blockade was "completely destroying" Iran and stated that the blockade would not end until an "agreement" was reached. The US is using this to exert pressure on Iran, demanding that it make concessions on its controversial nuclear program.

Trump told PBS News that Iran "should have attended" the negotiations held in Pakistan.

He said, "We have agreed to attend," and warned that if the ceasefire expired, "then a large number of bombs would start exploding."

He told Bloomberg that he "was extremely unlikely" to extend the two-week ceasefire agreement.

Based on the start time of the ceasefire, the ceasefire agreement is set to expire at midnight on Tuesday Tehran time; however, Trump said in an interview with Bloomberg that the ceasefire period will end at 8 p.m. Washington time on Wednesday.