President Donald Trump has canceled plans to send his senior diplomats Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan for negotiations with Iran, announcing on Fox News that “they can call us any time they want.”
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared his nation will not enter negotiations while facing a U.S. blockade of its ports. During a Saturday evening phone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pezeshkian stated the United States “should first remove operational obstacles, including the blockade” before new talks can begin, Iranian news outlets ISNA and Tasnim reported.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed Pakistan on Saturday night, according to two Pakistani officials who spoke with The Associated Press. Iran’s official IRNA news agency indicated Araghchi plans to return to Pakistan’s capital city Islamabad on Sunday.
In related developments, Trump announced Thursday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire with Hezbollah for an additional three weeks following White House discussions. This marks the second major diplomatic session between the nations this month, with the original 10-day truce set to end Monday.
The Trump administration announced Friday it will impose economic penalties on a significant Chinese oil refinery and approximately 40 shipping firms and vessels that transport Iranian petroleum. This action represents part of the administration’s strategy to implement secondary sanctions against businesses working with Iran to eliminate the country’s oil exports, a crucial revenue source.
Global airlines have started canceling flights as Middle Eastern conflicts disrupt jet fuel availability and drive up costs. Aviation experts are providing guidance to passengers on handling flight cancellations.
In Iran on Sunday, authorities executed a man convicted of terrorist activities in the southeastern Sistan and Baluchistan province, state media confirmed.
Amer Ramesh was executed after Iran’s Supreme Court confirmed a death sentence from a lower court, the judiciary news source Mizanonline reported.
The report did not specify the execution location or details about his arrest. Mizanonline stated Ramesh underwent training in another regional nation and belonged to the militant organization Jaish al-Adl, which seeks expanded rights for the Baloch ethnic community.
Iran has carried out similar executions for comparable charges and has executed more than a dozen individuals accused of terrorist activities in recent weeks.
During his Saturday night call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Iranian President Pezeshkian reiterated his country’s position on negotiations while under U.S. port restrictions. The Pakistani leader characterized their conversation as a “warm and constructive discussion.”
Foreign Minister Araghchi completed a one-day visit to Islamabad on Saturday after meetings with Pakistani military and government leaders. The visit failed to achieve progress in efforts to restart negotiations following Trump’s decision to cancel his envoys’ planned Islamabad trip.
According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, Araghchi will return to Pakistan following his current visit to Oman and before traveling to Russia. The report indicated he was scheduled to arrive back in Islamabad on Sunday to rejoin other delegation members who had returned to Tehran for consultations and “instructions on the topics related to the end of the war.”
