Trump Cancels US Envoys' Trip to Pakistan Amid Stalled Iran Ceasefire Talks

President Trump cancelled a planned trip by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan, stating that US officials are dealing with Iran's current leadership and emphasizing US leverage in negotiations. The cancellation occurred shortly before the envoys' scheduled departure for indirect talks mediated by Pakistan, according to Fox News reports.

Trump described the decision by saying US negotiators would not make an 18-hour flight under the circumstances.

Araghchi met with Pakistani officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the military chief of staff, but ruled out direct talks with US representatives. Araghchi stated on Telegram that Iran would continue engaging with Pakistan's mediation efforts until a result is achieved.

The Iranian delegation delivered a list of demands for ending the conflict and departed Islamabad without further negotiations, as reported by Al Jazeera. Pakistani sources indicated no breakthroughs occurred during the meetings. Security measures in Islamabad included checkpoints, road closures, and a strong presence of security forces, disrupting daily life in the capital ahead of the anticipated talks.

The developments follow Trump's announcement of an indefinite extension to the ceasefire with Iran, which has mostly held but not halted all incidents. Iran fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, hours after the ceasefire extension.

The US maintains a blockade on Iranian ports, with Trump ordering military forces to shoot and kill small boats suspected of placing mines. Germany announced it would send minesweeper ships to the Mediterranean to assist in removing Iranian mines from the strait once hostilities end.

“We’ve certainly seen some progress from the Iranian side in the last couple of days.”

Iran resumed commercial flights from Tehran's international airport for the first time since the conflict began about two months ago. Flights departed for Istanbul, Muscat, and Medina, according to Iranian state media. The conflict has disrupted global energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world's oil passes in peacetime.

Brent crude oil prices fluctuated between $103 and $107 per barrel on Friday, nearly 50% higher than at the war's start. Trump extended a Jones Act waiver for 90 days to allow non-American vessels to transport oil and natural gas, aiming to stabilize energy prices.

This follows an initial 60-day waiver issued in March.

Since the war began, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran, 2,490 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers and 13 US service members have also died. The UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon reported six members killed, including four Indonesians and two French, with the latest death on March 29.

A separate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon was extended by three weeks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a process toward historic peace between Israel and Lebanon.

“With its improved military, its recovering economy, and its various new relationships at the regional and subnational levels, North Korea has more strategic and tactical flexibility than ever before.”

Kushner previously participated in indirect talks with Araghchi in Geneva on February 27 regarding Iran's nuclear program, but no deal was reached. The following day, the US and Israel initiated military action against Iran. Pakistan has mediated since Trump's ceasefire extension, honoring Islamabad's request for diplomatic outreach.

The White House declined to comment on specific arrival times for the envoys before the cancellation. The squeeze on strait shipments has affected global trade, including increased US crude oil and LNG exports to Europe and Asia, with a record number of empty tankers heading to the US.