‘15 minutes to war’: Iran claims it nearly opened fire on US minesweeper during Pakistan peace talks
Tehran: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf revealed details of a high-stakes military standoff with the United States on Sunday, claiming that Iranian forces nearly opened fire on a U.S. minesweeper during recent diplomatic negotiations in Islamabad.
In a televised interview reported by Al Jazeera, Ghalibaf described a tense confrontation in which Tehran challenged the American delegation over naval operations within the Strait of Hormuz. The Speaker stressed that "the Strait of Hormuz is under the control of the Islamic Republic," asserting that U.S. attempts to clear naval mines constituted a "violation of the ceasefire."
According to Ghalibaf, the two nations were on the verge of renewed military conflict before the U.S. moved its vessel. "In Islamabad, I told the American delegation that if their minesweeper moves even a little further from its position, we will definitely shoot it," Ghalibaf stated. "They asked for 15 minutes to give the order to turn back, and they did."
The Speaker further criticised the ongoing American naval blockade of Iranian ports, characterising the policy as a "clumsy and ignorant decision."
Diplomatic Deadlock over Nuclear Assets
The disclosure of the naval skirmish comes as Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh signalled a breakdown in direct diplomacy. Khatibzadeh stated that Tehran is unwilling to participate in further direct talks, citing Washington's "maximalist" demands regarding Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Specifically, the deputy minister rejected President Donald Trump’s proposal to transfer Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium to the United States. "I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to [The] United States," Khatibzadeh told reporters.
Describing the demand as a "non-starter," he noted that while Tehran is open to addressing legitimate security concerns, it will not concede on fundamental nuclear rights. Despite a series of messages exchanged between the two capitals following President Trump’s recent public overtures, Khatibzadeh maintained that the U.S. continues to press for excessive concessions.
Rising Casualty Figures
As the diplomatic and military standoff persists, Iran’s state-run Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs released updated figures on the human cost of the conflict.
Citing foundation head Ahmad Mousavi, the ISNA news agency reported that joint U.S.-Israeli strikes have killed at least 3,468 people since hostilities commenced on Feb. 28. This figure represents an increase from the 3,375 deaths recorded by the Iranian Legal Medicine Organisation as of April 12.
With inputs from ANI