U.S. President Donald Trump instructed his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner not to travel to Pakistan for negotiations with Iran, stating on Fox News that “they can call us any time they want.”
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian made it clear that Iran will not engage in negotiations as long as the United States continues to impose a blockade on its ports. Pezeshkian relayed this message to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a phone call on Saturday night, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to remove operational obstacles, including the blockade, before any new negotiations can take place.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed from Pakistan on Saturday evening, according to two Pakistani officials. Araghchi is expected to return to Islamabad on Sunday.
In a separate development, Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah for three weeks after discussions at the White House. This extension followed the second round of high-level negotiations between the two countries this month. The original 10-day ceasefire was set to expire on Monday.
Furthermore, the Trump administration has imposed economic sanctions on a major oil refinery based in China and around 40 shipping companies and tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil. This move is part of the administration’s strategy to cut off Iran’s oil exports, which are a significant source of revenue, by threatening secondary sanctions on entities doing business with Iran.
The conflict in the Middle East has led airlines worldwide to cancel flights as jet fuel supplies are strained and prices rise. Travel experts are providing guidance to affected travelers on dealing with flight cancellations.
In Islamabad, normal life resumed on Sunday following the lifting of near-lockdown measures that were put in place ahead of planned ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Iran. The easing of restrictions brought relief to residents after days of disruptions and uncertainty, with authorities reopening tourist destinations, parks, and bus terminals while maintaining tight security in certain areas.
In a separate report, Iran executed a man named Amer Ramesh for terrorist activities in the Sistan and Baluchistan province. Ramesh, who was a member of the militant group Jaish al-Adl, had received training in a regional country and was seeking greater rights for the Baloch ethnic group. Iran has recently executed several individuals on similar charges related to terrorism.
President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s stance on negotiations with the U.S., emphasizing the need to lift the blockade on its ports before any discussions can proceed. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described his phone call with Pezeshkian as warm and constructive, although efforts to restart negotiations following the cancellation of Trump’s envoys’ visit to Islamabad did not yield significant progress.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to return to Islamabad after visiting Oman on his way to Russia. He will rejoin his delegation in Islamabad for further consultations related to ending the conflict.
