Trump leaves delegation on the ground – talks collapse

Talks in Pakistan

Trump cancels trip – Iran reacts

Back and forth in the Iran talks in Pakistan: First the Iranian foreign minister leaves, then Trump doesn’t want to send any representatives either.

US President Donald Trump blew off his negotiators in the Iran war shortly before departure. For the second time in a week, Jared Kusher and Steve Witkoff did not travel to Pakistan as planned. US President Trump spoke of the travel time being too long and an unacceptable proposal from Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had previously traveled to Pakistan, but only to meet the Pakistani mediators. Then he headed off to the airport again. The visit to Islamabad was “very fruitful,” Araghchi wrote on Platform Regarding the USA, he said: “It remains to be seen whether the USA is really serious about diplomacy.”

And then another twist: Shortly after Trump canceled his delegation’s trip, the Iranian Mehr news agency reported that Abbas Araghchi wanted to fly back to Pakistan on Sunday after a stop in Oman.

After the canceled trip, diplomacy to end the war is in limbo. It is completely unclear when or whether a second round of negotiations will take place. Referring to the Islamic Republic, Trump wrote that there was “enormous internal strife and confusion within its leadership.” Nobody knows who is in charge, “not even herself.”

When asked whether the US would now take up arms again, Trump told the Axios portal: “No. That’s not what it means. We haven’t thought about it yet.” Republican Senator Lindsey Graham spoke of a wise decision by the president and said Trump was going the “extra mile” on diplomatic channels. If necessary, the USA should resume its attacks on Iran.

It was previously planned that US special envoy Steve Witkoff would travel to Islamabad together with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner; unlike in the first round, Vice President JD Vance was not supposed to be there. The Iranians had asked to speak in person, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Friday. Trump now said the long trip was not worth it just to meet with Iranian negotiators that “no one had ever heard of” before.