President Donald Trump announced today the cancellation of the mission to Pakistan, where U.S. representatives were scheduled to resume peace negotiations with Iran, citing a strategic advantage over Tehran.
Trump ordered the suspension of the trip for Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who were set to participate in a second round of indirect talks. Speaking to Fox News, the President explained that he told them not to take an 18-hour flight for the meeting.
Trump justified the decision by claiming a strategic advantage in the dispute with Tehran, stating that the Iranians can call whenever they want, rendering diplomatic trips unnecessary without guaranteed results.
The President denied that canceling the trip signals a resumption of war or implies military escalation, stating that such a possibility has not been considered.
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The U.S. decision coincides with the departure of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi from Islamabad, who headed to Oman after meetings with Pakistani military and civilian officials. Diplomatic sources cited by EFE noted that Araqchi left the country without waiting for the American delegation, which had been scheduled to arrive today. Araqchi’s visit occurred amidst regional tensions and Islamabad’s efforts to facilitate the second round of negotiations.
According to Pakistani diplomatic sources, the Iranian minister had already indicated that his trip did not include meetings with United States representatives. While the U.S. had claimed on Friday that envoys were traveling after receiving an Iranian request to resume in-person negotiations and identifying progress, Iranian authorities categorically denied this assessment.
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They maintained from the beginning that no such meeting would take place. Negotiations have remained stalled due to Tehran’s refusal to engage with the United States until Washington lifts the embargo on Iranian ports and commercial navigation.
During his meetings in Islamabad, Araqchi conveyed Iran’s core positions regarding the ceasefire and the end of the conflict, with Pakistani media reporting that Iran expressed total reservations regarding U.S. demands and requested the lifting of the blockade and the cessation of American attacks.
