ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON — Prospects for a diplomatic breakthrough in the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran dimmed at the start of the week, as negotiations remained stalled and both Tehran and Washington showed little sign of easing their positions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi concluded a weekend visit to Pakistan, which has been acting as a mediator, without securing progress. At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump canceled a planned trip to Islamabad by his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, dealing a further setback to efforts aimed at de-escalating the two-month conflict.
The continuing deadlock between the United States, the world’s largest economy, and Iran, a major oil producer, has contributed to rising global energy prices, renewed inflationary pressures, and concerns over slowing economic growth.
In a phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would not engage in what he described as imposed negotiations conducted under threats or blockades, according to an official statement. He added that Washington must first remove operational constraints, including its blockade on Iranian ports, before meaningful discussions could begin.
Araqchi described his discussions in Pakistan as constructive. However, an Iranian diplomatic source in Islamabad indicated that Tehran would reject what it considers maximalist demands from the United States.
Trump, speaking to reporters in Florida, said he called off the envoys’ visit due to the costs and travel involved, as well as what he viewed as insufficient concessions from Iran. He said Tehran had made offers, but these did not meet U.S. expectations.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump also cited internal divisions within Iran’s leadership, claiming there was confusion over decision-making authority. He reiterated that the United States holds a position of strength and said Iran could initiate talks if it chose to do so.
Tensions in the region were further heightened after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered military strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, according to his office, testing a fragile three-week ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Iran has largely restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global oil and liquefied natural gas, while the United States continues to enforce measures blocking Iranian oil exports.
Earlier, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there had been some indications of progress from the Iranian side and noted that Vice President JD Vance remained prepared to travel to Pakistan following an earlier round of talks that did not yield an agreement.
The conflict, which is currently under a ceasefire arrangement, began on February 28 with U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Tehran has since launched retaliatory strikes targeting Israel, U.S. bases, and locations in Gulf states.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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