Iran said it came just inches away from sealing an “Islamabad MoU” with the United States before the talks collapsed, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accusing Washington of last-minute “maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade.” In a post on X, Araghchi said Tehran entered the highest-level direct engagement with the US in 47 years in good faith to help end the war, but claimed the negotiations broke down at the final stage when a breakthrough appeared within reach.
Araghchi’s remark that the sides were “inches away” from an accord underscored how close the negotiations had come to success before tensions sharply escalated. He ended his message with a pointed warning that “good will begets good will, enmity begets enmity,” signalling conditional openness to renewed diplomacy.
Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian later reinforced that message, saying a diplomatic breakthrough with Washington remains possible if the US abandons what he called “totalitarianism” and respects the rights of the Iranian nation. He said that under such conditions, “ways to reach an agreement will certainly be found,” while also praising Iran’s negotiating team, including parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, for their efforts during the Islamabad talks. The remarks suggest Tehran wants to project that, despite being inches away from a deal before the collapse, diplomacy remains possible if the American side changes course.
Meanwhile, US Central Command said it will begin enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports from 10 a.m. ET on Monday, April 13 (7:30 pm IST), marking a major escalation in tensions. In a post on X, CENTCOM said its forces “will begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports” in accordance with the president’s proclamation. It added that the measure would be enforced “impartially against vessels of all nations” operating through Iranian ports and coastal zones, including facilities along the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
