United States Special Envoy Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff(r)|kremlin.ru|CC BY 4.0
President Donald Trump said he had canceled a planned visit by US envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to Pakistan for talks on the Iran conflict, signaling stalled diplomacy.
The envoys were scheduled to arrive on Saturday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was also in Islamabad.
Trump told Axios that the 18-hour journey was pointless at the current state of negotiations. He added that talks could take place over the phone. He stressed the decision does not signal a return to war.
Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran last week.
Meanwhile, Araghchi said he remains uncertain about the US commitment to negotiations after meetings in Islamabad. Despite fruitful discussions with Pakistani officials, no breakthrough emerged.
Tensions remain high in the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered fresh strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, despite a ceasefire deal that Trump extended last week.