Iran digs in as US envoys Kushner and Witkoff head to Pakistan for more talks

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Laura ZhouPublished: 8:13pm, 25 Apr 2026Updated: 10:35pm, 25 Apr 2026In a prelude to a possible second round of peace talks in Pakistan, Iran ramped up its rhetoric against the United States on Saturday, warning of retaliation if the US kept up its shipping blockade.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the operational centre of the Islamic Republic’s armed forces, warned of a “severe reaction” if the US continued its “naval blockade, maritime piracy and robbery in the region”.

Iran’s defence ministry also said that much of the country’s missile strength remained intact and Iran produced more than 1,000 types of weapons of its own, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency.

AdvertisementThe ministry said that while Iran had leveraged its control of the Strait of Hormuz into a geopolitical gain, it still had three goals in the conflict with the US: securing compensation for damage, pursuing accountability for those killed during the conflict, and strengthening deterrence to prevent future threats.

Iran releases video of 2 container ships seized in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran releases video of 2 container ships seized in the Strait of Hormuz

Tehran issued the demands as US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witkoff were expected to arrive in Islamabad for what is hoped to be further talks on Sunday to end a war that has upended the global economy.

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