President Donald Trump has instructed US envoys not to attend talks with Iran in Pakistan, following the departure of Iran's top diplomat from Islamabad. The move comes as tensions between the two nations remain high, with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meeting with Pakistani officials to discuss the country's 'red lines' for negotiations.
Araghchi had expressed concerns about trusting the US after previous talks over Tehran's nuclear program ended with a US and Israeli attack. The White House had announced plans to send Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan for talks, but Iran's foreign ministry stated that any discussions would be indirect, with Pakistani officials conveying messages.
The standoff around the Strait of Hormuz continues, with Iran attacking three ships this week and the US maintaining a blockade on Iranian ports. The crisis has disrupted global shipments of oil, liquefied natural gas, and other supplies, with the price of Brent crude oil remaining nearly 50% higher than when the war began.
Despite the ongoing tensions, an open-ended ceasefire has paused most fighting, but the economic fallout continues to grow. Iran has resumed commercial flights from Tehran's international airport, and Germany is sending minesweeper ships to the Mediterranean to help remove Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities end.
