Donald Trump declared on Saturday April 25 that he had canceled a planned trip by his envoys to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran, creating new uncertainty around efforts to negotiate an end to the war. Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff were scheduled to attend a second round of peace talks with Iran in Islamabad.

First modification: 04/26/2026 - 01:02

US President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he had canceled his envoys' planned trip to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran, but said that did not mean an immediate resumption of the US-Israel war against the Islamic Republic.

Shortly before the announcement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi concluded his own diplomatic visit to Islamabad after meeting Pakistani military chief Asim Munir, a key figure in the mediation effort, as well as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

The White House had previously stated that Trump's emissaries, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, were heading to the Pakistani capital for an "in-person conversation" with the Iranians that would "hopefully move things forward toward an agreement."

But Trump told Fox News on Saturday that he had canceled the trip.

"We have all the cards in our hands. They can call us whenever they want, but you are not going to make 18-hour flights again to sit and talk about anything," the president said he had told his team.

When asked by American media outlet 'Axios' if that meant a resumption of hostilities, Trump responded: "No. It doesn't mean that. We haven't thought about it yet."

Iran's Foreign Ministry said Araghchi had departed Islamabad and arrived in Muscat on Saturday to meet with Omani officials. He is also expected to travel to Russia to discuss efforts to end the war that the United States and Israel launched against Iran on February 28.

Araghchi called his trip to Pakistan "very fruitful" in a post on X, adding that he had shared Iran's stance on a "viable framework to end the war permanently."

"It remains to be seen whether the United States is serious about diplomacy," he said.

Even before Trump's announcement, the prospects for new talks were uncertain, as Iranian state television had reported that Araghchi was not planning to meet the Americans and that Islamabad would serve as a bridge to "convey" the Iranian proposals.

Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif said he had spoken by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday and assured him that Islamabad "remains committed to acting as an honest and sincere facilitator, working tirelessly to promote lasting peace."

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The opening of Hormuz is "vital"

The urgency of reaching an agreement to permanently end the war has increased as the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and gas supplies, remains closed.

However, Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard declared on Saturday that it had no intention of ending its effective blockade of the sea lane, which has plunged energy markets into chaos.

"Controlling the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the shadow of its deterrent effects on the United States and the White House's supporters in the region is the ultimate strategy of Islamic Iran," the Revolutionary Guard Corps stated on its official Telegram channel.

The United States has imposed its own blockade of Iranian ports in retaliation.

In a defiant statement carried by state media, the Iranian military's central command said that if "the US invading army continues its blockade, banditry and piracy in the region, it must be sure that it will face a response."

Since the first and only round of US-Iran talks, also hosted by Pakistan, efforts to bring both sides back to the negotiating table have stalled as Iran refuses to participate as long as the US naval blockade remains in place.

Iran, for its part, has only allowed a handful of ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

The president of the European Council, António Costa, stated that the sea route "must be reopened immediately, without restrictions and without tolls."

"This is vital for the entire world," Costa declared.

Read alsoTrump affirms that Iran made a new proposal after the cancellation of the trip of US envoys to Pakistan

Netanyahu orders attack on Lebanon

On the Lebanese front of the war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to "forcefully attack Hezbollah's targets," after the military accused the Iran-backed group of violating a ceasefire that had been extended earlier this week.

Prior to this statement, Lebanon's Health Ministry had reported that Israeli attacks on Saturday in the southern districts of Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil had left six people dead.

Trump had announced the three-week extension of the truce on Thursday and had spoken in very glowing terms about the prospects for peace after meeting with Israeli and Lebanese envoys.

However, Mohammed Raad, leader of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, urged the Lebanese government to withdraw from direct talks with Israel and warned that a lasting peace deal like the one Trump is pursuing "will not have Lebanese national consensus at all."

Netanyahu has accused the group of "trying to sabotage" the peace process.

In the coastal city of Sidon, Ahmad Shumar and his family were preparing to return to their southern hometown this week, after giving up an earlier attempt for fear of Israeli attacks.

"We are going home now, not knowing if there will be war or peace; we will see," said the 74-year-old, surrounded by bags and mattresses.

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Adapted from its original in English.

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