Trump Hardball Dashes Peace Hopes Engendered by Araqchi
By Reuters | 26 Apr, 2026

Efforts by Iran's foreign minister to continue dialogue in Islamabad ended when Trump pushed an all-or-nothing stance in the face of a worsening global economic crisis.

People walk near a billboard featuring an image of Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, amid a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, in Tehran, Iran, April 20, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Hopes of reviving peace efforts in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran receded on Sunday as Iran's foreign minister returned to Pakistan despite the absence of U.S. counterparts after President Donald Trump told envoys not to resume talks.

While Abbas Araqchi continued to shuttle between mediating countries over the weekend, Trump scrapped a visit to Islamabad by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

U.S. forces removed security equipment from the city, Pakistani government sources said, signalling that any U.S. delegation was unlikely to return for negotiations soon.

Although a ceasefire has paused full‑scale fighting in the conflict, which began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, no agreement has been reached on terms to end a war that has killed thousands, driven up oil prices, fuelled inflation and darkened the outlook for global growth.

Tehran has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries a fifth of global oil shipments, while Washington has imposed a blockade of Iran's ports.

After holding talks in Pakistan, Araqchi flew to Oman - another mediator in the war - where he met the country's leader, Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, on Sunday.

They discussed security in the strait and Araqchi called for a regional security framework free of outside interference, according to Iran's foreign ministry.

Araqchi later returned to Islamabad, Iranian state media reported. Pakistani government sources said he would hold talks with the country's leadership before heading to Moscow.

IRAN 'OFFERED A LOT, BUT NOT ENOUGH', SAYS TRUMP

Speaking in Florida before being rushed out of the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, Trump said he cancelled his envoys' visit due to too much travel and expense for what he considered an inadequate Iranian offer.

Iran "offered a lot, but not enough," Trump said.

An earlier round of talks in Islamabad - in which Vice President JD Vance led the U.S. delegation opposite Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf - ended without agreement.

After the latest diplomatic trip was called off, two U.S. Air Force C-17s carrying security staff, equipment and vehicles used to protect U.S. officials flew out of Pakistan, two Pakistani government sources told Reuters on Sunday.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by phone that Tehran would not enter "imposed negotiations" under threats or blockade, according to a statement from the Iranian government.

He said the United States should first remove obstacles, including its maritime blockade, before negotiators could begin laying the groundwork for a settlement.

TRUMP SAYS IRAN'S LEADERSHIP IN DISARRAY

Writing on Truth Social before the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Trump said there was "tremendous infighting and confusion" within Iran's leadership.

"Nobody knows who is in charge, including them," he posted. "Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!"

Pezeshkian said last week there were "no hardliners or moderates" in Tehran and that the country stood united behind its supreme leader.

The war has destabilised the Middle East - Iran has struck its Gulf neighbours and conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon has been reignited.

Israel's military issued new evacuation orders for southern Lebanon on Sunday, ordering residents to leave seven towns beyond the "buffer zone" it occupied before a ceasefire that has failed to bring a full halt to hostilities.

(Reporting by Reuters bureaus; Writing by Lisa Shumaker and Ros Russell; Editing by Deepa Babington, Alison Williams, Aidan Lewis, Alexandra Hudson)