Trump scraps Islamabad envoy trip after Iran talks stall

President Donald Trump canceled a planned diplomatic mission to Islamabad on Friday after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi left Pakistan without reaching a breakthrough in ceasefire talks, the Korea Times reported citing Reuters.

The collapse deals a fresh blow to efforts to end the standoff that began with U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Feb. 28. Iran has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz — which normally carries one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments — pushing energy prices to multi-year highs.

Trump announced the cancellation via social media, citing disarray in Tehran's leadership. "Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their 'leadership,'" Trump said in a social media post. "Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!"

Araqchi had met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other officials in Islamabad before departing without a deal. In a statement posted on his official Telegram account, Araqchi said he had "explained our country's principled positions regarding the latest developments related to the ceasefire and the complete end of the imposed war against Iran."

An Iranian diplomatic source in Islamabad told Reuters that negotiations had reached an impasse. "Principally, Iranian side will not accept maximalist demands," the source said. Tehran subsequently ruled out new direct talks with the United States, according to the Korea Times.

The current standoff dates to U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28. Iran responded with strikes on Israeli and American targets as well as Gulf states. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel is now in force, but the broader economic confrontation persists: the United States continues to block Iran's oil exports, while Iran has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping.

Vice President JD Vance had led earlier unsuccessful talks with Iran. The White House had reported seeing some progress from Tehran in recent days before Friday's planned Islamabad meeting — which was set to be led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner — collapsed before it began.

With Tehran ruling out new direct talks and the Strait of Hormuz still effectively closed, the path to a diplomatic settlement appears to be narrowing even as both sides nominally leave the door open.