Araghchi to revisit Islamabad as Trump cancels envoys’ trip for Iran talks

TEHRAN – 26 April 2026: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to return to Islamabad following his current visit to Muscat, as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a deal with the US, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported.

The planned visit comes while US President Donald Trump said he had canceled a scheduled trip by his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to Islamabad for talks with Iran.

Trump cited Iran’s stance in ongoing negotiations, saying he saw “no point” in sending the delegation under current circumstances.

“We can do it just as well by telephone. The Iranians can call us if they want. We are not going to travel just to sit there,” he said, while denying that the decision signaled any move toward military action.

IRNA reported that part of the Iranian delegation accompanying Araghchi had already returned from Islamabad to Tehran for internal consultations on the diplomatic track.

The delegation members are expected to rejoin the foreign minister later on Sunday in the Pakistani capital, the agency added.

The US-Iran war is currently on hold under a ceasefire aimed at allowing talks on reaching a deal for an end to hostilities.

US President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire last week, citing internal divisions within the Middle Eastern country.

The war, triggered by US and Israeli strikes on February 28, has killed scores of people in Iran and caused widespread destruction. The United States said it struck thousands of targets, including missile launchers, military vessels, and industrial facilities.

The conflict has also prompted Iranian retaliatory strikes across the region, leaving dozens dead and contributing to wider instability. Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has further disrupted global oil flows, driving a sharp surge in energy prices.