Donald Trump said the planned visit by US envoys to Pakistan has been cancelled, but indicated that the conflict will not resume

Donald Trump said on Saturday that he had cancelled his envoys’ planned trip to Pakistan for talks with Iran, but stressed that the move does not signal an immediate resumption of the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic.

The announcement came shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi concluded a visit to Islamabad, where he met Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as part of mediation efforts.

Earlier, the White House had said Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, would travel to Islamabad for face-to-face discussions with Iranian representatives aimed at advancing a potential deal. However, Trump told Fox News he had called off the visit, saying the US held the advantage and would not continue lengthy trips for unproductive talks.

When asked by Axios whether the decision meant hostilities would resume, Trump replied that it did not, adding that no such step had been considered.

Meanwhile, Iran said Araghchi had left Islamabad for Muscat to meet Omani officials and is expected to travel onward to Russia for further discussions on ending the war, which the United States and Israel launched against Iran on February 28. Araghchi described his Pakistan visit as “very fruitful” and said Tehran had presented a workable framework for a lasting peace, while questioning Washington’s commitment to diplomacy.

Uncertainty had already surrounded the prospects for fresh negotiations, with Iranian state media indicating Araghchi did not plan to meet US officials directly, and that Pakistan would instead relay Tehran’s proposals.

The urgency for a deal has grown as the Strait of Hormuz—critical for global oil and gas shipments—remains closed. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they would maintain control of the waterway as part of a deterrence strategy, while the US has imposed its own blockade on Iranian ports in response.

Iran’s military warned that continued US actions in the region would provoke retaliation. Efforts to restart talks have stalled since the first round of negotiations in Pakistan, with Tehran refusing to return while the US naval blockade persists.

Elsewhere, European Council President Antonio Costa called for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, calling it vital for global stability.

On the Lebanese front, Trump recently announced a three-week extension of a ceasefire and voiced optimism about peace after meeting Israeli and Lebanese envoys. However, Mohammed Raad urged Lebanon to withdraw from direct talks with Israel, warning any deal would lack national consensus.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of attempting to undermine the peace process. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday reportedly killed six people, underscoring the fragile situation.