Iran’s foreign minister concluded meetings in Pakistan as former President Trump canceled a planned trip for his envoys to Islamabad.
Iranian Delegation Departs Islamabad
A delegation from Iran, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Saturday, according to Reuters, citing sources within the Pakistani government.
The Iranian news agency IRNA confirmed the information, reporting that Araghchi met only with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his visit.
Tehran’s Response to U.S. Proposals
Araghchi delivered Tehran’s response to U.S. proposals for a peace agreement to Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir, including demands and reservations regarding Washington’s position, Reuters reported.
The Iranian portal IranInternational, citing state television, stated that the position conveyed by Araghchi was “comprehensive and reflects all of Tehran’s observations.”
Trump Cancels Envoy’s Trip
The American delegation, consisting of President Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, was preparing to fly to Islamabad, a plan previously announced by the White House.
However, after learning of the Iranian delegation’s departure, Trump canceled the trip, stating, “I told my people, who were getting ready to leave, ‘No, you’re not going to fly 18 hours to get there. We have all the cards. They can call us when they want, but you’re not going to fly there for 18 hours to sit and talk about nothing,’” according to a Fox News interview.
Previous Statements and Upcoming Meetings
On Friday, Trump stated that Iran wanted to discuss a potential agreement and fulfill U.S. demands. Despite U.S. officials’ statements, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghei indicated that direct talks between the two countries’ delegations would not occur in Islamabad.
Araghchi was scheduled to meet with high-ranking Pakistani officials before traveling to Oman and Russia to “coordinate actions with our partners, including consultations on regional events.”
Diplomatic Impasse and Potential U.S. Exit Strategy
The ANI news agency described the current situation as a “deepening diplomatic impasse.” A spokesperson for the Iranian Defense Ministry stated on Saturday that the U.S. would seek a way to exit the conflict “with face,” according to AFP and Iranian media.
Past Negotiations and Current Ceasefire
The previous round of U.S.-Iran peace negotiations took place on April 11 in Islamabad but ended without a resolution. A ceasefire between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, which began on February 28, was in effect until April 8.
Trump extended the ceasefire indefinitely after it expired after two weeks.