War in the Middle East: Trump cancels his envoys trip to Islamabad

Donald Trump cancelled on Saturday the planned trip to Islamabad by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for talks with Iran, distancing the prospect of a rapprochement, while Israel ordered new strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The Pakistani capital hosted Iranian-American discussions two weeks ago, sparking hope for a resumption with the arrival of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday. The White House then announced the departure of President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Islamabad.

However, without waiting, the Iranian minister concluded his visit to Pakistan on Saturday, prompting Trump to cancel the trip via his Truth Social network, stating that there was no need for his envoys to travel long hours for talks that could be conducted over the phone.

When asked if the cancellation meant a return to war by Axios media, Trump replied, “No. It does not mean that. We haven’t thought about it yet.” He reiterated his theory that internal divisions within the Iranian leadership hindered Tehran from negotiating.

“If they want to talk, they just need to call us,” said the Republican leader.

Triggered by a US and Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, the regional conflict has claimed thousands of lives, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, shaking the global economy with Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

– Serious? –

Speaking later at Palm Beach Airport in Florida, President Trump mentioned a meeting with Iranians planned for “Tuesday” in Islamabad.

Regarding the cancellation of his envoys’ trip, he assured that within minutes of canceling, the Iranians submitted a new negotiation document that was “much better.”

Meanwhile, the Iranian foreign minister, who was traveling to Oman, is set to return to Islamabad on Sunday according to Iranian state media.

On Saturday, he stated that he was unsure if the US was “actually serious” about diplomacy, according to his ministry.

Pakistan, on the other hand, remains committed to serving as an honest and sincere mediator between Iran and the United States, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian in a phone call.

– Response to American “piracy” –

Maritime traffic remains halted in the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) used to transit before the conflict, subject to Iranian and American blockades.

The Revolutionary Guards of Iran stated that control of the strait was Tehran’s “ultimate strategy” in conflict with the US.

The Iranian armed forces command, on the other hand, threatened the US with a military response if the American blockade of Iranian ports continued, denouncing acts of “piracy.”

Meanwhile, Tehran’s international airport reopened on Saturday, with initial flights to Medina, Muscat, and Istanbul.

President Pezeshkian urged Iranians to conserve electricity, warning that while there was no shortage currently, the US and Israel aimed to foster discontent among Iranians.

– Six killed in Lebanon –

In Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to strike the pro-Iranian Hezbollah “forcefully” following what the army described as a series of ceasefire violations.

Since reopening hostilities with Israel on March 2, more than 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon by Israeli attacks, according to Lebanese authorities.