Islamabad, Pakistan. Hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran receded as a new week began, with talks aimed at ending the two-month conflict at a standstill. Both Tehran and Washington showed little willingness to soften their terms.
Mediation effort in Pakistan yields no progress
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi left mediator Pakistan empty-handed at the weekend, and U.S. President Donald Trump canceled a planned visit to Islamabad by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Economic fallout grows as confrontation continues
The deadlock leaves the world’s biggest economy and a major oil power locked in a confrontation that has pushed energy prices to multi-year highs, stoked inflation and darkened global growth prospects.
Tehran rejects “imposed negotiations” and cites blockade
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. Pezeshkian said the United States should first remove “operational obstacles,” including its blockade on Iranian ports, before negotiators can lay any groundwork to resolve the conflict.
U.S. says Iran’s offer fell short
Trump told reporters in Florida that he scrapped the envoys’ visit because the talks involved too much travel and expense to consider an inadequate offer from the Iranians. After the diplomatic trip was called off, Iran “offered a lot, but not enough,” Trump said.
Trump cites leadership confusion; Iran emphasizes unity
On Truth Social, Trump wrote that there was “tremendous infighting and confusion” within Iran’s leadership, adding: “Nobody knows who is in charge, including them.” He also wrote that the United States had “all the cards” and that Iran could call if it wanted to talk.
Pezeshkian said on Thursday that there were “no hardliners or moderates” in Tehran and that the country stood united behind its supreme leader. Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Araqchi echoed the message in recent days.
What developments would you watch for to gauge whether U.S.-Iran talks are moving toward a resumption?
