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Iran FM Back in Pakistan as US Scraps Talks

Iran FM Back in Pakistan as US Scraps Talks

CN Desk: Iran's foreign minister returned to Islamabad for more consultations on Sunday, as international mediators tried to keep peace talks on track despite US president Donald Trump calling off his envoys' planned trip.

According to the Iranian news agency ISNA, Abbas Araghchi was to sit down with Pakistani officials to convey 'Iran's positions and views on the framework of any understanding to completely end the war' in the Middle East.

The minister had already been in Islamabad only the day before, after which he travelled to Oman, while other Iranian envoys went to Tehran 'to consult and obtain the necessary instructions on issues related to ending the war', according to the agency.

Araghchi will meet Russian president Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow on Monday, the ISNA news agency reported.

It cited Tehran's ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, who said that Araghchi would meet Putin and 'consult with Russian officials regarding the latest status of the negotiations, ceasefire, and surrounding developments', and present a report on negotiations to end the war with the United States and Israel.

Before Saturday's Iran-Pakistan meetings in Islamabad, the White House had announced that Trump's peace envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were planning to leave for Pakistan to engage in further negotiations.

But Trump later told Fox News he had scrapped the trip, saying there was no point 'sitting around talking about nothing'. He dismissed Tehran's negotiating position, but added that it had revised its proposal within minutes of his decision.

'They gave us a paper that should have been better and - interestingly - immediately when I cancelled it, within 10 minutes, we got a new paper that was much better,' he told reporters, without elaborating. Asked separately whether halting the trip meant a return to open hostilities, Trump said: 'No, it doesn't mean that. We haven't thought about it yet.'

Later, after a gunman was arrested at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, Trump said he did not think the incident was related to Iran but that it would not deter him 'from winning the war'.

On Saturday, Araghchi met Pakistan's military chief Asim Munir, a key mediator, prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and foreign minister Ishaq Dar, before flying on to Muscat.

He is expected to go to Moscow after the talks in Islamabad. Araghchi described his initial Pakistan trip as 'very fruitful' but signalled scepticism over Washington's  intentions. 'Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy,' he said. Pressure to end the war has intensified as the Strait of Hormuz - a vital oil and gas route - remains closed.

Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards said they had no intention of lifting their blockade, which has roiled energy markets.

'Controlling the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the shadow of its deterrent effects over America and the White House's supporters in the region is the definitive strategy of Islamic Iran,' the Guards said on their official Telegram channel.

The United States has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports in retaliation.

In a statement carried by state media, Iran's military warned that continued US 'blockading, banditry and piracy' would draw a response.

On the war's Lebanese front, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered strikes on Hezbollah and accused the Iran-backed group of violating a ceasefire that was extended this week.

Hezbollah on Sunday rejected Netanyahu's accusation that it was jeopardising a ceasefire, and said it would keep responding to Israel's violations and its occupation of south Lebanon.

In a statement, Hezbollah said its attacks on Israeli targets in south Lebanon and northern Israel were 'a legitimate response to the enemy's persistent violations of the ceasefire since the first day of the announcement of the temporary truce'.

'Hezbollah affirms clearly and firmly that the enemy's continued ceasefire violations... and above all its continued occupation of Lebanese territory and violations of its sovereignty will be met with a response and a resistance that is... ready to defend its land and people,' the statement said.

Lebanese official media said Israel's military began striking the country's south after issuing an evacuation warning for seven locations, despite the ceasefire with the Iran-backed group.

'Israeli warplanes launched a strike' in Kfar Tibnit - one of the locations included in the warning - the state-run National News Agency said, adding that there were reports of casualties.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel reserves the right to act against 'planned, imminent or on-going attacks'.

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Iran FM Back in Pakistan as US Scraps Talks

Publish Date : 27 April 2026

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CN Desk: Iran's foreign minister returned to Islamabad for more consultations on Sunday, as international mediators tried to keep peace talks on track despite US president Donald Trump calling off his envoys' planned trip.According to the Iranian news agency ISNA, Abbas Araghchi was to sit down with Pakistani officials to convey 'Iran's positions and views on the framework of any understanding to completely end the war' in the Middle East.The minister had already been in Islamabad only the day before, after which he travelled to Oman, while other Iranian envoys went to Tehran 'to consult and obtain the necessary instructions on issues related to ending the war', according to the agency.Araghchi will meet Russian president Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow on Monday, the ISNA news agency reported.It cited Tehran's ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, who said that Araghchi would meet Putin and 'consult with Russian officials regarding the latest status of the negotiations, ceasefire, and surrounding developments', and present a report on negotiations to end the war with the United States and Israel.Before Saturday's Iran-Pakistan meetings in Islamabad, the White House had announced that Trump's peace envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were planning to leave for Pakistan to engage in further negotiations.But Trump later told Fox News he had scrapped the trip, saying there was no point 'sitting around talking about nothing'. He dismissed Tehran's negotiating position, but added that it had revised its proposal within minutes of his decision.'They gave us a paper that should have been better and - interestingly - immediately when I cancelled it, within 10 minutes, we got a new paper that was much better,' he told reporters, without elaborating. Asked separately whether halting the trip meant a return to open hostilities, Trump said: 'No, it doesn't mean that. We haven't thought about it yet.'Later, after a gunman was arrested at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, Trump said he did not think the incident was related to Iran but that it would not deter him 'from winning the war'.On Saturday, Araghchi met Pakistan's military chief Asim Munir, a key mediator, prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and foreign minister Ishaq Dar, before flying on to Muscat.He is expected to go to Moscow after the talks in Islamabad. Araghchi described his initial Pakistan trip as 'very fruitful' but signalled scepticism over Washington's  intentions. 'Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy,' he said. Pressure to end the war has intensified as the Strait of Hormuz - a vital oil and gas route - remains closed.Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards said they had no intention of lifting their blockade, which has roiled energy markets.'Controlling the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the shadow of its deterrent effects over America and the White House's supporters in the region is the definitive strategy of Islamic Iran,' the Guards said on their official Telegram channel.The United States has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports in retaliation.In a statement carried by state media, Iran's military warned that continued US 'blockading, banditry and piracy' would draw a response.On the war's Lebanese front, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered strikes on Hezbollah and accused the Iran-backed group of violating a ceasefire that was extended this week.Hezbollah on Sunday rejected Netanyahu's accusation that it was jeopardising a ceasefire, and said it would keep responding to Israel's violations and its occupation of south Lebanon.In a statement, Hezbollah said its attacks on Israeli targets in south Lebanon and northern Israel were 'a legitimate response to the enemy's persistent violations of the ceasefire since the first day of the announcement of the temporary truce'.'Hezbollah affirms clearly and firmly that the enemy's continued ceasefire violations... and above all its continued occupation of Lebanese territory and violations of its sovereignty will be met with a response and a resistance that is... ready to defend its land and people,' the statement said.Lebanese official media said Israel's military began striking the country's south after issuing an evacuation warning for seven locations, despite the ceasefire with the Iran-backed group.'Israeli warplanes launched a strike' in Kfar Tibnit - one of the locations included in the warning - the state-run National News Agency said, adding that there were reports of casualties.Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel reserves the right to act against 'planned, imminent or on-going attacks'.

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