A high-stakes diplomatic push to end the US-Israel war on Iran hit a fresh roadblock on Saturday after President Donald Trump abruptly cancelled a planned trip by his envoys to Islamabad, just hours after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed Pakistan without meeting American officials.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump confirmed he had unilaterally called off the journey of his two senior envoys — presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff — who had been expected to travel to Islamabad for indirect negotiations with Tehran. "Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work!" Trump wrote. He added that there was "tremendous infighting and confusion" within Iran's leadership, claiming no one in Tehran knew who was in charge. "We have all the cards, they have none," he declared, leaving the door open for Iran to initiate contact: "If they want to talk, all they have to do is call."
Araghchi's Whirlwind Diplomatic Tour
Araghchi had arrived in Islamabad on Friday and held meetings through Saturday with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. The talks focused on Iran's conditions for a permanent ceasefire, with Pakistani officials acting as intermediaries to relay Tehran's demands to Washington. Sharif described the discussions as "very warm and sincere," while Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said his government was actively "facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States."
After leaving Islamabad, Araghchi flew to Oman's capital Muscat — the second stop on a three-country tour that will also take him to Moscow. Posting on X, the Iranian foreign minister called his Pakistan visit "very fruitful" but cast doubt on Washington's intentions. "Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy," he wrote. Pakistani officials expressed cautious optimism, with some sources suggesting Araghchi could return to Islamabad as early as Sunday or Monday if sufficient progress is made.
Internal Divisions Cloud Iran's Negotiating Stance
Analysts pointed to deep divisions within Iran's leadership as a major complicating factor. Mark Kimmitt, a former US assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, told Al Jazeera that the confusion in Washington reflected "different power centres inside of Iran." He noted that Araghchi's early departure from Islamabad suggested a lack of coordination within Tehran's hierarchy, raising questions about whether the foreign minister had the authority to commit to any deal. Reports from Iran International also indicated that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had stepped down as head of Iran's negotiating team amid internal disputes, with hardliner Saeed Jalili seen as a possible replacement.
Iran has been simultaneously pursuing diplomatic and military messaging. While Araghchi toured regional capitals, Iranian commanders warned that any continuation of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports — imposed since April 13 — would be met with a military response. A lawmaker from Qom declared Iran would keep "pressing the enemy's throat in the Strait of Hormuz" until it surrendered.
The Hormuz Crisis and Global Energy Fears
The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz continued to rattle global energy markets. French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking in Athens alongside Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said restoring freedom of navigation through the strait was his top priority. "The aim is to restore freedom of navigation through the strait in line with international law," Macron said, warning that geopolitical panic alone could trigger shortages. His remarks followed warnings from TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné that a prolonged conflict could tip the world into energy scarcity, given that roughly 20 percent of global oil and gas supply normally passes through the waterway.
More than a dozen countries have signalled readiness to join a France- and Britain-led mission to protect shipping in the strait. Germany has positioned a minesweeper in the Mediterranean as a precautionary step, and Turkey said it would participate in demining operations if a peace agreement is reached.
Lebanon Fighting Continues Despite Ceasefire
Away from the diplomatic maneuvering over Iran, Lebanon's fragile ceasefire continued to fray. Israeli warplanes struck the southern town of Kunin and other locations in the Bint Jbeil district, while Lebanon's Health Ministry reported that the death toll from Israeli attacks had risen to 2,496 since March 2, with more than 120,000 people displaced. The Israeli military said it had killed fifteen Hezbollah fighters since the start of the weekend, framing the strikes as responses to imminent threats. Hezbollah, for its part, said it had hit an Israeli vehicle in southern Lebanon. The UN has warned that some of Israel's actions in Lebanon may violate international humanitarian law.
With Araghchi now in Oman and Trump showing little appetite to extend diplomatic overtures, the next days will be critical in determining whether a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran can be transformed into a durable peace — or whether the region edges back toward open conflict.