Why the “indirect” US-Iran talks are on the brink of collapse on Day 57
US President Donald Trump has cancelled a planned trip to Pakistan by envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff for Iran peace talks, Fox News reported on Saturday, citing the president. Trump added to Fox News, “They can call us anytime they want.”
The White House on Friday said Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would be going to Pakistan’s capital to attempt to revive ceasefire negotiations. On Day 57 of the Iran conflict, the move underscores the uncertainty around diplomacy, as Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Islamabad without meeting US officials, even as Pakistan attempted to broker indirect negotiations, news agencies Reuters and the Associated Press reported.
Araghchi held talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir, outlining Tehran’s “red lines” before departing, AP reported. There was no sign of direct engagement with US envoys, Reuters and AP said.
Araghchi later described his visit to Pakistan as “very fruitful,” adding in a social media post that he had “shared Iran’s position concerning (a) workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran. Have yet to see if the U.S. is truly serious about diplomacy”.
Iranian media reported that Araghchi had flown to Oman’s capital Muscat, saying he would meet with senior officials to “discuss and exchange views on bilateral relations and regional developments”.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi meets Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in Islamabad, Pakistan, in this screengrab taken from a video released April 25, 2026. (REUTERS)
‘Not going to be making any more 18-hour flights’: Trump
In a brief phone interview, Trump told Fox News that he told US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner “you’re not going to be making any more 18-hour flights to sit around talking about nothing”. Trump also said of the US side “we have all the cards”.
Trump says ‘too much time wasted on traveling’
The US president has weighed in on his Truth Social platform to explain why he called off the planned trip to Pakistan by his envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff for Iran peace talks.
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“I just cancelled the trip of my representatives going is Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians. Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work!” Trump wrote.
“Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their ‘leadership’. Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards, they have none!”
Iran draws red lines, rejects US pressure
Tehran signalled it is not ready to уступ on Washington’s terms. “Principally, Iranian side will not accept maximalist demands,” an Iranian diplomatic source told Reuters.
Araghchi said Iran had conveyed its “principled positions” on the ceasefire and the end of what it calls an “imposed war,” while agreeing to continue engagement through Pakistan’s mediation, according to Reuters and AP.
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The US maintained pressure. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran still had a chance to make a “good deal,” adding it must abandon nuclear weapons “in meaningful and verifiable ways,” Reuters reported.
Trump had earlier said Iran was preparing an offer to meet U.S. demands, though details remain unclear.
Indirect talks only, trust deficit deep
Iran has ruled out direct engagement, insisting all communication be routed through Pakistan, Reuters reported, while AP highlighted Islamabad’s role as a mediator.
The mistrust stems from earlier failed nuclear talks that were followed by U.S.-Israeli strikes — the trigger for the current war, AP reported.
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A previous round of negotiations in Pakistan involving US Vice President JD Vance lasted over 20 hours but ended without a breakthrough, according to AP.
Iran-US Talks: What We Know — And What We Don’t
Trip cancelled by Trump
Witkoff/Kushner Pakistan trip scrapped — confirmed to Fox News by Trump himself. White House had announced it just ~24 hrs earlier.
Trump’s quote on record
“Not making 18-hour flights to sit around talking about nothing” — Trump to Fox News. The sharpest public signal yet of US frustration.
US “has all the cards”
Trump’s framing: US holds leverage, Iran must initiate. “They can call us anytime they want.” Positions America as the party not seeking talks.
~24-hour reversal
White House formally announced the Pakistan trip on Friday. Trump cancelled within ~24 hours — the fastest diplomatic reversal of this conflict cycle.
Araghchi met Sharif + Munir
Iran’s FM met Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir. Outlined Iran’s red lines to Pakistani side, then departed — no US contact made.
Zero US-Iran contact
No direct or indirect engagement between Araghchi and US envoys in Islamabad. Iran agreed to continue via Pakistan but ruled out direct talks.
Hegseth’s nuclear demand
Hegseth: Iran must abandon nuclear weapons “meaningfully and verifiably.” Iran’s diplomatic source told Reuters: “will not accept maximalist demands.”
Hormuz choked, Brent +16%
Strait down to a handful of vessels vs ~130/day pre-war. Brent up ~16% this week, ~50% above pre-war baseline. Prior Vance round: 20+ hrs, no result.
Tactic or breakdown?
Whether cancellation is a pressure move or genuine collapse is unclear. Trump’s “they can call us” is consistent with both readings — and he hasn’t clarified.
Was Pakistan warned?
No confirmed report that Pakistan was notified before Trump announced the cancellation on Fox News. If true, a significant diplomatic slight to Islamabad.
Iran’s red lines
Araghchi outlined red lines to Pakistani officials — but their specific contents have not appeared in any sourced report. Core sticking point remains opaque.
Iran’s “offer” contents
Trump said Iran was “preparing an offer.” What it contains — concessions, conditions, timelines — has not been detailed in any sourced report.
Pakistan channel status
Iran agreed to continue via Pakistan — but whether that channel remains functional after the US no-show and public Fox News cancellation is unconfirmed.
US return conditions
What would bring the US back to the table beyond the nuclear ask is unstated. No conditions, timeline, or mediator named by White House or State Dept.
Hormuz as leverage?
Whether the Hormuz disruption — choking shipping and spiking Brent — is being deliberately used as diplomatic leverage by either side is unclear.
Ceasefire durability
No formal ceasefire agreement exists. With talks suspended, fresh Israel-Hezbollah clashes in Lebanon already reported. How long the pause holds is open.
Strait of Hormuz disruption shakes global markets
Even with fighting paused, the economic fallout is deepening.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — a key global energy route — remains severely restricted, Reuters reported, with only a handful of vessels crossing compared to around 130 daily before the war.
Drone view of oil tanker HELGA berthed at one of Iraq’s southern offshore oil terminals near Basra as it prepares to load crude oil, becoming the second vessel to arrive since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, on April 24, 2026. (REUTERS)
Oil markets remain volatile: Brent crude has jumped about 16% this week and is still nearly 50% higher than pre-war levels, Reuters and AP said.
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The disruption is rippling across global supply chains, affecting trade routes far beyond the Gulf, AP reported.
Iran says it retains “firm control” over the strait and warned it will respond to any continued US “blockade and piracy,” according to Reuters.
Ceasefire holds, but tensions persist
An open-ended ceasefire — extended by Trump — has paused most fighting, allowing limited normalcy to return. Flights resumed from Tehran after weeks of shutdown due to the conflict, Reuters reported.
However, regional tensions remain high. Fresh clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon underline how fragile the situation is despite a parallel ceasefire extension, Reuters and AP reported.
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Rising toll on Day 57
The war, which began with US-Israeli strikes on February 28, has caused heavy casualties across the region:
- At least 3,375 killed in Iran
- Over 2,490 in Lebanon.
- 23 in Israel.
- More than a dozen in Gulf states.
- Casualties also include US troops and UN peacekeepers.
(With inputs from Reuters, AP)
