President Donald Trump has cancelled the U.S. delegation’s planned trip to Pakistan for talks on the Iran war, just hours after Iranian officials left Islamabad on Saturday. The move dashes prospects for immediate progress in a conflict that has gripped global markets and shipping lanes.
Trump said sending special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner would waste too much time, adding that “all they have to do is call” if Iran wants to talk. The decision follows Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s meetings with Pakistani mediators, where he shared Tehran’s stance on ending the fighting but voiced doubts over whether the U.S. was “truly serious about diplomacy.”
The standoff centres on the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of world oil passes, according to the International Energy Agency. Iran restricted access after U.S. and Israeli strikes began in February, prompting Washington to boost its naval presence and target Tehran’s oil exports. Disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme, which Tehran insists is for energy despite near-weapons-grade uranium enrichment, add fuel to the fire.
The White House had hinted at Iranian eagerness to engage when announcing the trip on Friday, though no direct meeting was on the cards. Vice President JD Vance, who led initial talks earlier this month, was ready to join if breakthroughs emerged.
Trump insisted the truce holds firm. Responding to Axios on whether war might resume, he said, “No, it doesn’t mean that. We haven’t thought about it yet.” He cited chaos in Tehran, with tremendous infighting and confusion, leaving nobody sure who is in charge, and posted on Truth Social, “Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!”
Pakistan has brokered recent contacts, including a fruitless 11 April session. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described fruitful exchanges with Araghchi, who called his visit productive.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes killed four in southern Lebanon on Saturday after Hezbollah rockets, amid their own shaky truce. With oil at $90 a barrel, the risks linger.