WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump has canceled a planned trip to Pakistan by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for peace talks with Iran.
“I just cancelled the trip of my representatives going is Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians,” Trump said on April 25 after a US official had confirmed to RFE/RL that the trip had been called off.
“Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their ‘leadership.’
Trump was quoted afterwards by Axios as saying in a brief interview that canceling the trip did not automatically mean war with Iran would restart.
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“No. It doesn’t mean that. We haven’t thought about it yet,” he told Axios.
The comments come after Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi held what hecalleda “timely tour” to the Pakistani capital on April 25 to coordinate on “bilateral matters” with Pakistani officials before proceeding to Oman and Russia.
Several media outlets have reported that Araqchi and his delegation have left Islamabad.
Iran has conditioned its return to the negotiating table on the lifting of a US naval blockade of its ports, a demand Trump has so far rejected. Tehran has also dismissed Trump’s unilateral extension of the cease-fire as “meaningless” so long as the blockade remains in effect.
Our neighbors are our priority, said Araqchi, who is leading the delegation. Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who led the first round of talks with the US in Pakistan on April 11-12, has not traveled to Islamabad.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei was more explicit,postingon X that “no meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US,” and that Tehran’s positions would be “conveyed to Pakistan” rather than delivered directly to American negotiators.
Araqchi met with Pakistani Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and separately with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, though no details of the latter meeting have emerged.
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In his talks with Munir, Araqchi conveyed Iran’s “views and considerations for ending the war” as well as its reservations about US demands, according to Reuters, which cited an unnamed Pakistani source involved in the talks.
Iranian state media said Araqchi and Munir also discussed the latest cease-fire developments and cooperation to “strengthen peace and stability” in the region. Munir expressed gratitude for Iran’s trust in Pakistan and pledged to continue mediation efforts “until a result is achieved.”
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have sharpened in recent days, with Iran seizing two vessels and firing on a third after the US captured an Iranian-flagged ship.
The Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which serves as Iran’s joint military command, warned on April 25 that it would respond if the United States continued its blockade.
With reporting by Reuters
Trump Cancels Witkoff And Kushner Trip To Pakistan For Peace Talks
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