Trump envoy ‘travels to Pakistan hoping for talks with Iran’ as feared missile barrage across Gulf fails to materialise: Hopes rise of diplomatic end to war – but Tehran says suggestion of a deal is ‘fake news’

It was reported that Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy went to Pakistan to hold peace talks with Iran after the regime’s feared missile attack on the Gulf did not materialize.

Pakistan offered to mediate between the US and Iran, and Steve Witkoff’s arrival in Islamabad sparked hopes for a diplomatic end to the war.

This comes after the US President dramatically pulled back from the brink his threat to ‘destroy’ Iran’s power plants within 48 hours.

As the hours approached for the mullahs to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, he suddenly claimed that Tehran was on the verge of agreeing on ‘no more war’, ‘no more nuclear weapons’ and ‘regime change’.

Mr Trump said there would be a “five-day” pause on energy strikes after talks with the “most respected” leader remaining in the Islamic Republic, whom he declined to name.

But within minutes, officials in Iran said it was “fake news” and a “phantom negotiation” designed to manipulate financial markets and rejected any direct talks with Washington.

Chillingly, a source told the state-run Fars News Agency that Tehran was planning ‘special events’ for Israel and US allies in the region overnight that would ‘completely destroy any hopes of negotiations’.

On another dramatic day in the Middle East:

• President Trump’s Truth Social post and impromptu press conference saw stock markets stabilize and oil prices fall worldwide after fluctuating wildly;

• The aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford retreated to Crete to signal that Washington was serious about ending Operation Epic Rage;

• Sir Keir Starmer said ‘this is not our war’ but warned Britain must be prepared for shocks from conflict ‘for some time’;

• No 10 insisted British forces ‘have the military capacity’ to stop Iran’s long-range missiles hitting our shores;

• HMS Dragon has finally reached the Eastern Mediterranean; More than three weeks after the RAF base in Cyprus was hit by an Iranian drone;

• Counter-terrorism police and security services were investigating whether an arson attack on four Jewish community ambulances in north London was linked to Tehran.

Iran launched a new wave of attacks on Israel overnight, with loud explosions heard over Jerusalem and missiles targeting Tel Aviv.

There were also reports that missiles were launched towards Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and were intercepted there.

But the rest of the Middle East appeared to avoid a deadly barrage despite Iran’s threats.

There was a flurry of diplomacy last night as leaders around the world desperately tried to make sense of Mr. Trump’s over-the-top announcements.

These included a proposal for “joint leadership” in which “me and the Ayatollah” would control the Strait of Hormuz, which is closed to most tankers and causes a loss of 11 million barrels of oil per day.

US peace envoys Mr Witkoff and Jared Kushner are reportedly trying to arrange a summit in Islamabad this week with the speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammed-Bagher Ghalibaf.

Mr Witkoff was also said to have participated in ‘intense phone calls’ hosted by Egypt on Sunday with Iran, involving Turkey, Qatar and Pakistan as intermediaries.

While Mr. Wiktoff was traveling to Pakistan TimesThere is no indication yet that any important figure from the Islamic Republic will join him.

And Mr. Galibaf said: ‘There have been no negotiations with the US and fake news is being used to manipulate financial markets and oil markets and to escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are stuck.’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that he had spoken to his “friend” Mr Trump, who “believes there is an opportunity to capitalize on the tremendous achievements we have achieved”. However, he said that Israel will continue its attacks against Iran.

Sir Keir welcomed Mr Trump’s change and told MPs on the House of Commons liaison committee: ‘We, the UK, were aware that this was happening and the immediate priority must be a rapid resolution of the conflict and the delivery of a negotiated agreement that imposes tough conditions on Iran, particularly in relation to nuclear weapons.’

Asked about President Trump’s repeated personal attacks on him, Sir Keir suggested it was a ‘pressure tactic’.

US peace envoys Mr Witkoff and Jared Kushner are reportedly trying to arrange a summit with Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammed-Bagher Ghalibaf (pictured), in Islamabad this week.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen since the start of the war but could rule the strait jointly with the US

Missiles launched by Iran advanced towards Tel Aviv early Tuesday morning, following a new wave of Iranian attacks

The US President mocked the Prime Minister as ‘not Churchill’ and released a comedy sketch at the weekend suggesting Sir Keir was afraid of him.

Sir Keir told MPs: ‘Much of what is said and done is undoubtedly said and done to put pressure on me, I have no doubt about that. I understand exactly what’s going on. But I won’t hesitate about it… It’s served me well these last few weeks.’

“I would welcome a de-escalation of tensions with President Trump,” opposition leader Kemi Badenoch said, before warning: “He can be quite unpredictable.” You never know.’ But some Israelis had growing concerns.

Dan Illouz, a member of the Israeli parliament, told the Daily Mail: ‘Any agreement that spares this cruel regime will only pause the clock for our next inevitable war.

‘True security for Israel and true freedom for the Iranian people will only be possible by completely dismantling this leadership based on terrorism.’

Announcing that the energy strikes were suspended for five days, Trump said: ‘They called, I didn’t call, they called, they want to make a deal. And we are very ready to make a deal. [but] Must be a good deal. We will see how this goes and if things go well we will solve this problem.

‘Otherwise we’ll keep bombing our little hearts.’

The US President emphasized that he had “very, very strong” talks on “pretty much all points of agreement” and said the talks were going “excellently”. He said it would be a ‘good deal’ that would bring ‘an end to more wars, an end to nuclear weapons’ and claimed Iran ‘has accepted that’.

But he refused to say who he had met with, describing them only as Iran’s “very solid” leaders.

Mr Trump said: ‘To be fair, everyone has been killed by the regime. They really automatically start with a regime change.

‘But we’re dealing with some people who I find very reasonable, very solid. ‘The people inside know who they are, they are very respected, and maybe one of them is exactly the person we’re looking for.’

Asked who he was speaking to, Mr Trump said: ‘We are dealing with a man who I believe is the most respected and a leader.’

When asked whether the person killed on the first day of the war was the new Religious Leader Mujtaba Khamenei, who replaced his father, Ayatollah Khamenei, Trump said it was not.

The electronics industry building of the Iranian Ministry of Defense in Tehran was destroyed following the strike held on Monday.

Steve Witkoff is said to have arrived in Islamabad as hopes grow for a diplomatic end to the war

‘We haven’t heard from him,’ he said. ‘No one heard of his son, the second religious leader. ‘Nobody. We haven’t heard from my son.

‘Every now and then we see a statement made, but we don’t know whether he is alive or not.’

Before departing for an event in Tennessee, where he found time to visit Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland, Mr Trump hedged his bets: ‘We have a very real chance of getting a deal, it doesn’t guarantee anything. ‘I don’t guarantee anything.’

He later added that Iran had ‘another opportunity to end its threats’.

Mr Trump had previously said: ‘We have been negotiating with Iran for a long time and this time they want business. It’s just thanks to the good work of our military… they want to get along and we’ll get it done.’

Late Monday night, the White House appeared to reduce speculation about possible talks on ending the war.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement: ‘These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the United States will not negotiate through the press.

‘This is a fluid situation and speculation about meetings should not be considered final until it is officially announced by the White House.’

Meanwhile, another 5,000 US Marines departed for the region last night and will be ready for a potential invasion of Iran’s strategically vital Kharg Island next Monday if negotiations fail.