It comes as Iran’s chief negotiator and parliament speaker, Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf in a social media post said, Tehran does not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats and the Islamic Republic has been preparing to reveal new cards on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, Iranian state television also issued an on-screen alert today saying that no delegation from Tehran has visited Islamabad in Pakistan so far. The alert likely reflects the internal debate ongoing within Iran’s theocracy as it weighs how to respond to the US Navy’s seizure of an Iranian container ship over the weekend. Last time, Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf led the Iranian side.

On the other hand, US President Donald Trump offered mixed messages about the path ahead for the United States’ war against Iran, declaring that he was in no rush to end the conflict. President Trump has indicated that US Vice President JD Vance is expected to lead an American team to the talks. Mr Trump said he is highly unlikely to renew the ceasefire before it expires tomorrow.

Since the war started, fighting has killed at least 3,375 people in Iran and more than 2,290 in Lebanon. Additionally, 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 US service members throughout the region have been killed.