Iran says no talks under siege; Trump cancels envoys' trip to Pakistan
President Trump canceled his envoys' planned visit to Pakistan for negotiations with Iran, citing insufficient peace proposals. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Pakistan after presenting a framework for ending the conflict, and Trump said talks would continue by phone instead.
Trump Cancels Diplomatic Trip
US President Donald Trump has cancelled his envoys' visit to Pakistan for negotiations, saying Iran did not make a satisfactory offer for a peace deal. US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were expected to travel to Islamabad on Saturday, but Trump canceled their trip at the last minute.
Trump's Rationale
President Donald Trump reiterated long travel time as a key reason for canceling special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner's scheduled trip to Pakistan for a second round of talks with the Iranians adding that negotiations will be handled over the phone. "We have all the cards. We are not going to go there to sit around talking about nothing."
Iranian Position
Trump's announcement followed the departure of Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi from Pakistan, where he presented mediators with a potential framework for ending the conflict. The Iranian foreign minister expressed in his meetings that Iran demands the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade as a pre-condition for talks.
What's Next
Trump said he's since received a new proposal from Tehran, offering "a lot but not enough." Negotiations have hit repeated roadblocks, with Trump blaming "infighting" in Tehran for complicating the effort. In the absence of a deal, a US naval blockade is causing rising food prices and unemployment for everyday Iranians, while Tehran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has economic ripple effects around the world.