President Donald Trump cancelled a trip by U. S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan, aimed at mediating peace in Iran, citing high travel costs and dissatisfaction with Iran’s peace offer. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had just left Islamabad without making any significant progress. While he referred to his discussions with Pakistani officials as “very fruitful,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that Tehran would not engage in negotiations under threats or blockades, calling for the U. S. to remove operational obstacles, including its blockade on Iranian ports, to pave the way for better discussions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed his forces to “forcefully” target Hezbollah in Lebanon, further complicating the existing three-week ceasefire. Trump mentioned a new offer from Iran after he cancelled the visit but deemed it still insufficient. He also highlighted internal chaos in Iran’s leadership, stating that no one seems to know who is in charge and emphasized that the U. S. holds the upper hand in negotiations.
The ongoing conflict has led to increased energy prices and affected global economic growth, further straining U. S.-Iran relations. Washington and Tehran remain at an impasse, with the closed Strait of Hormuz impacting global oil shipments. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned some progress from Iran recently and indicated that Vice President JD Vance was prepared to travel to Pakistan after earlier talks did not succeed.
With information from Reuters
