Islamabad: Attempts at ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran fell flat after Tehran’s top diplomat left Pakistan, and President Donald Trump’s envoys stayed away after he told them not to travel to Islamabad.
The US president indicated the ball was now in Iran’s court.
“If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!” Trump said on social media.
The negotiations were meant to follow historic face-to-face talks earlier this month between the US, led by Vice President JD Vance, and Iran, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.
But Iranian officials have questioned how they can trust the US after its forces started blockading Iranian ports in response to Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi left Islamabad for Oman, on the other side of the Strait of Hormuz and a country that has mediated peace talks in the past. He said he would return to Pakistan again on Sunday before heading to Russia, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported.
“Shared Iran’s position concerning a workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran. Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy,” Araqchi said on social media about his talks in Pakistan about what he called Iran’s red lines for negotiations.
Meanwhile, another ceasefire – between Israel and the Iran-allied Hezbollah in Lebanon – was shaken on Saturday as each side fired at the other, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to “vigorously attack Hezbollah targets in Lebanon”.
Iran had said any talks would be indirect
Last week, Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran. It has paused most fighting, but the economic fallout is growing, two months into the war, as global shipments of oil, liquefied natural gas, fertiliser, and other supplies are disrupted by the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Both sides have continued to make military threats. Iran’s joint military command on Saturday warned that “if the US continues its aggressive military actions, including naval blockades, banditry, and piracy,” it will face a “strong response.”
Even before Saturday’s developments, Iran’s foreign ministry said any talks would be indirect and that Pakistani officials would act as go-betweens.
Within 10 minutes of his cancelling the trip to Pakistan of his envoys — Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — Trump claimed that Iran had sent a “much better” proposal. He did not elaborate.
