Iran-US latest update: War to erupt again? Donald Trump says he canceled envoys trip to Pakistan talks, Tehran rejects Washington demands

U.S. President Donald Trump canceled ‌a ⁠planned ⁠trip to Pakistan by envoys Jared Kushner and ⁠Steve ‌Witkoff for peace ⁠talks with Iran, Fox News reported on Saturday. The ‌network said Trump told ⁠Fox about the trip's cancellation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi laid out Iran's demands and its reservations about U.S. positions on Saturday as Pakistan made a new push to end a war that has killed thousands and shaken global energy markets.



Iran Officials in Pakistan



After holding ​talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other top officials, Araqchi and his delegation flew out of Pakistan's capital Islamabad with a military jet ​escort, government sources said. Details of the talks were scant.

The White House had earlier said President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner would travel to Islamabad on Saturday. It was not immediately clear if or when Araqchi would return to Pakistan. Iran has previously ruled out a new round of direct talks with the United States.

Washington and Tehran are at an impasse as Iran has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries one-fifth of ‌global oil and liquefied natural ⁠gas (LNG) shipments, ⁠while the U.S. blocks Iran's oil exports.



US-Iran Ceasefire


The conflict, in which a ceasefire is now in force, began with U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28. Iran has since carried out strikes against Israel, U.S. bases and Gulf states, and ​the war has pushed up energy prices to multi-year highs, stoking inflation and darkening global growth prospects.

Araqchi "explained our country's principled positions regarding the latest developments related to the ceasefire and the complete end of the imposed ​war against Iran", said a statement on the minister's official Telegram account.

Asked about Tehran's reservations about U.S. positions in the talks, an Iranian diplomatic source in Islamabad told Reuters: "Principally, Iranian side will not accept maximalist demands."

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had earlier told reporters that Iran had a chance to make a "good deal".



International Flights



Days after Trump extended the ceasefire, international flights resumed from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport on Saturday, Iranian media said. The first passengers had departed for Medina, in Saudi Arabia, Muscat and Istanbul, with operations expected to accelerate in the coming days.

"Well, it's a good feeling. When flights resume, trade is done, and people can do their jobs. It’s a good feeling," said one passenger at the airport, where passengers were queuing at check-in desks.

Iranian airspace has been largely closed since the start of the war. Tens of thousands of flights have been cancelled, rerouted and rescheduled worldwide, shutting much of the Middle East's airspace because of missile and drone threats.

Trump unilaterally extended a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday to allow more time to reconvene the negotiators.