Trump cancelled Witkoff visit

Islamabad (dpa) — US President Donald Trump on Saturday cancelled a visit by top officials to Pakistan after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left the capital Islamabad, as efforts to negotiate an end to the war in the Middle East were dealt a fresh blow.

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner had been due to fly to the country, which is mediating between Tehran and Washington, early on Saturday.

However, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the trip was cancelled. “Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work!”

The US president appeared to blame “tremendous infighting and confusion within their ‘leadership'” for the failure to resume talks.

Araghchi said on X that he had a “very fruitful visit to Pakistan,” adding that he had “shared Iran’s position concerning workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran.”

“Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy,” he added.

Trump cancelled Witkoff visit

The US and Israel have been at war with Iran since February 28. A ceasefire has been in place since earlier this month and was extended unilaterally by Trump on Tuesday, but the US continues to blockade Iranian ports.

Key sticking points in negotiations including the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran blockaded following the beginning of the war, causing oil and gas prices to surge worldwide.

Another is Iran’s nuclear programme, long the subject of tensions between Washington and Tehran.

The two sides held an initial round of talks in Islamabad earlier this month, with the US represented by Vice President JD Vance, but the negotiations ended without a breakthrough.

On Friday, Araghchi travelled to Islamabad for talks, raising hopes of a further round of negotiations with the US.

The White House announced Kushner and Witkoff’s planned trip, saying the Iranians had asked for a meeting.

Trump cancelled Witkoff visit

But the Iranian side consistently said publicly it did not plan to meet with US representatives during the trip.

In Islamabad, Araghchi first met with the Pakistani army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who is playing a key role in mediation efforts. The Iranian minister then spoke with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to a statement from his office.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the meeting with Sharif lasted around two hours.

Reports on Friday said Araghchi planned to travel on to Oman and later to Moscow following his visit to Islamabad.

US broadcaster CBS News reported that Araghchi was expected to return to Islamabad on Sunday or Monday, citing Pakistani officials.