HOPES of a diplomatic opening in the Iran conflict have receded sharply after the United States cancelled a planned envoy mission to Pakistan, underscoring a deepening impasse with Tehran as military tensions persist across the region.
US President Donald Trump said he had called off the visit by senior envoys to Islamabad, citing both the cost and complexity of the journey as well as dissatisfaction with Iran’s latest proposal.
Speaking before departing Florida on Air Force One, Reuters cited Trump saying the offer from Tehran had improved after the cancellation, “but not enough.”
In a social media post, Trump described disarray within Iran’s leadership.
"Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!"
The move came as Abbas Araqchi left Islamabad without securing any breakthrough, after holding talks with Pakistani officials including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Although Araqchi characterised the visit as “very fruitful,” Tehran signalled no shift in its core position.
Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, reiterated that negotiations would not proceed under coercion.
According to an official statement, Pezeshkian told Sharif that Iran would not enter “imposed negotiations” conducted under threats or blockade, adding that Washington must first remove “operational obstacles,” including restrictions affecting Iranian ports.
The diplomatic deadlock is unfolding alongside renewed strain on a three-week ceasefire. Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered Israeli forces to “forcefully” strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, testing the durability of the truce.
At the centre of the confrontation is the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy artery that Iran has largely closed, disrupting shipments that account for roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supply. The United States has responded by intensifying measures against Iranian oil exports.
The conflict, which began on February 28 with joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, has since escalated into a wider regional confrontation, with Iranian strikes targeting Israel, U.S. installations and Gulf states. The fallout has sent energy prices to multi-year highs, fuelling inflation and weighing on global growth.
Araqchi said he had “explained our country's principled positions regarding the latest developments related to the ceasefire and the complete end of the imposed war against Iran,” according to a statement published on his official Telegram account.
An Iranian diplomatic source in Islamabad reinforced that stance, stating: "Principally, Iranian side will not accept maximalist demands."
Despite earlier signals of cautious optimism from Washington, including the potential involvement of Vice President JD Vance following a previous round of inconclusive talks in Pakistan, the latest developments highlight a widening gap between the two sides and diminishing prospects for near-term progress. - April 26, 2026
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