In brief
- Donald Trump has cancelled his envoys’ weekend visit to Pakistani capital.
- Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says he has yet to see if US is “truly serious about diplomacy”.
Overnight, U.S. President Donald Trump called off his envoys’ scheduled trip to Pakistan for discussions aimed at achieving peace with Iran. He stated there was little value in “sitting around talking about nothing,” while also clarifying that the conflict would not immediately escalate.
Trump explained that he abandoned the visit due to dissatisfaction with Tehran’s negotiating stance. However, he noted that shortly after his decision, a new and improved proposal was presented.
“They handed us a document that should have been more substantial,” Trump remarked to reporters. “Interestingly enough, right after I canceled the trip, within ten minutes, we received a much better document,” he added without going into further detail.
The White House had initially announced that Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff were set to travel to Pakistan for negotiations with Iran, aiming to progress “towards a deal.” However, Trump later revealed to Fox News that he had decided to cancel the journey.
“We have the upper hand. They can contact us whenever they’re ready, but we won’t be making any more long-haul flights just to engage in fruitless discussions,” Trump stated, recounting what he had conveyed to his team.
When questioned if the cancellation indicated a return to conflict, Trump responded, “No, it doesn’t suggest that. We haven’t considered that option yet.”
Shortly beforehand, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi wrapped up a visit to Islamabad after meeting Pakistan’s military chief Asim Munir, a key mediator, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and foreign minister Ishaq Dar.
Iran said Araghchi had left for Muscat and would return to Pakistan after meetings in Oman before travelling on to Russia for talks on ending the war launched by the United States and Israel on 28 February.
Araghchi described his Pakistan trip as “very fruitful” but signalled scepticism over Washington’s intentions.
“Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy,” he said.
Even before Trump’s move, prospects for talks were uncertain, with Iranian state television saying Araghchi had no plans to meet US officials and that Islamabad would act as a conduit for proposals.
Sharif said he had spoken to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to facilitating “durable peace”.
Pezeshkian told Sharif in a phone call that Tehran would not enter “imposed negotiations” under threats or blockade, according to a statement from the Iranian government.
Pezeshkian said the US should first remove “operational obstacles”, including its blockade on Iranian ports, to be able to create a groundwork to resolve issues.
Hormuz blockade deepens
Pressure to end the war has intensified as the Strait of Hormuz — a vital oil and gas route — remains closed.
But Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards said they had no intention of lifting their blockade, which has roiled energy markets.
“Controlling the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the shadow of its deterrent effects over America and the White House’s supporters in the region is the definitive strategy of Islamic Iran,” the Guards said on their official Telegram channel.
The United States has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports in retaliation.
In a statement carried by state media, Iran’s military warned that continued US “blockading, banditry and piracy” would draw a response.
Efforts to resume US-Iran talks have stalled, with Tehran refusing to engage while the naval blockade remains. Iran has allowed only limited shipping through the strait.
Israel strikes Lebanon again amid ceasefire
On the war’s Lebanese front, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered strikes in Lebanon amid a ceasefire that was extended earlier this week.
Lebanese state media reported Israeli attacks in at least four locations in the south — a pair of strikes in quick succession in a town in Bint Jbeil district, another on a town in Tyre district, and strikes on two more towns in Nabatieh district.
The strikes in Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil killed six people, according to the health ministry.
Israel’s military claimed it “eliminated” three Hezbollah operatives who were driving “a vehicle loaded with weapons” as well as another one riding a motorcycle, and two more armed members of the group elsewhere.
Trump had announced the three-week truce extension on Friday and voiced optimism about peace after meeting Israeli and Lebanese envoys.
But Mohammed Raad, the head of the parliamentary bloc for Hezbollah, urged Lebanon to withdraw from talks and warned any deal would lack national consensus.
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