Trump Cancels Pakistan Talks Trip, Says Iran War on Hold

Trump said he canceled the visit after being unimpressed with Tehran’s negotiating stance, adding that a revised offer came within minutes of his decision.

“They gave us an article that was supposed to be better, and — interestingly — when I canceled, we got a much better article within 10 minutes,” he told reporters, without going into too much detail.

The White House had said that Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff would go to Pakistan for talks to “reach a deal” with Iran, but Trump told Fox News he canceled the trip.

“We have all the cards. They can call us whenever they want, but now you won’t sit around and take an 18-hour flight without talking about anything,” the president told his team.

Additionally, when asked whether the cancellation meant a return to hostilities, Trump said, “No, it doesn’t mean that. We haven’t thought about it yet.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently concluded his visit to Islamabad after meeting Pakistan’s military chief Asim Munir, one of the key mediators, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Iran said Araghchi went to Muscat and will return to Pakistan after talks in Oman, then go to Russia for talks on ending the war launched by the US and Israel on February 28.

Araghchi described his trip to Pakistan as “very productive” but signaled doubts about Washington’s intentions.

“I haven’t seen yet whether the United States is really serious about diplomacy,” he said.

Even before Trump’s move, prospects for negotiations were uncertain, with Iranian state television broadcaster Araghchi saying there were no plans to meet with US officials and that Islamabad would serve as a conduit for proposals.

Sharif said he met with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian and reiterated Islamabad’s determination to facilitate “lasting peace”.

Iranian state television reported that Pezeshkian told Sharif that the Islamic Republic would not be forced into negotiations due to Washington’s “hostile actions.”

– The blockade of Hormuz deepens –

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas route, has intensified pressure to end the war.

But Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards have said they have no intention of lifting the blockade that has plagued energy markets.

“Controlling the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the shadow of its deterrent effect on America and the White House’s supporters in the region is the definitive strategy of Islamic Iran,” the Guard said in a statement on its official Telegram channels. he said.

The United States blockaded Iranian ports in retaliation.

Iran’s military warned in a statement carried by state media that the United States’ continued “blockade, banditry and piracy” would be met with a response.

Efforts to restart US-Iran talks stalled when Tehran refused to participate in talks while the naval blockade continued. Iran has allowed only limited shipping through the strait.

European Council President Antonio Costa said the waterway “must be reopened immediately, without restrictions and without any fees”, insisting it was “vital for the whole world”.

– Israel is hitting Lebanon –

On the Lebanese front of the war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an attack on Hezbollah after accusing the Iran-backed group of violating a ceasefire extended earlier this week.

Lebanese state media reported that Israel launched attacks in at least four locations in the south: an attack in rapid succession on a town in the Bint Jbeil region, another attack on a town in the Tire region, and an attack on two more towns in the Nabatieh region.

Six people died in the attacks in Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil, according to the health ministry.

The Israeli military said three Hezbollah operatives driving a “vehicle loaded with weapons” were “eliminated” as well as another man riding a motorcycle and two more armed members of the group elsewhere.

Trump announced on Thursday that the ceasefire would be extended for three weeks and expressed optimism about peace after meeting with Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors.

But Mohammed Raad, head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, called on Lebanon to withdraw from the talks and warned that any deal would lack national consensus.

Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of trying to “sabotage” the peace process.

In the coastal city of Sidon, Ahmed Shumar and his family were preparing to return to their hometown in the south after abandoning previous attempts for fear of Israeli attacks.

“We are returning home now, not knowing whether there will be war or peace,” said the 74-year-old man, surrounded by bags and mattresses.