ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON: President Trump on Sunday said Iran can take a call if it wants to negotiate to end the war started by the US and Israel, as Iran’s foreign minister returned to Pakistan for talks despite the absence of his US counterparts. Hopes of reviving peace efforts were dashed after Trump canceled the visit of his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad, even as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi continued to mediate talks between the countries. “If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us. There’s a telephone. We have good, secure lines,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News’ “The Sunday Briefing.” “They know what has to be in the agreement,” he said. It’s very simple: They cannot have nuclear weapons, otherwise there is no reason to meet.” Speaking in Florida, Trump said he canceled his envoys’ trip because of the excessive travel and expense of what he considered inadequate Iranian offers. “Iran gave a lot, but not enough,” Trump said. Two U.S. Air Force C-17 planes flew out of Pakistan carrying security personnel, equipment and vehicles used to protect American officials, two Pakistani government sources said Sunday, after the latest diplomatic trip was cancelled. After holding talks in Pakistan, Araghchi flew to Oman – another mediator in the war – where he met the country’s leader, Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, on Sunday. According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, they discussed security in the strait and Araghchi called for a regional security framework free from outside interference. Araghchi meets Munir Aragchi returned to Islamabad later on Sunday and met Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to local media reports. After talking with Munir, Araghchi left for Moscow. There was no official statement from Pakistan about the meeting, which apparently focused on the ongoing peace efforts by Islamabad. “Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin,” Iran’s ISNA news agency quoted Tehran’s Ambassador Kazem Jalali as saying. Earlier on Sunday, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Araghchi’s talks with Pakistani officials were expected to include “imposing a new legal regime on the Strait of Hormuz, achieving compensation, guaranteeing no renewed military aggression by warmongers and lifting the naval blockade.” Iran’s leadership is in confusion According to the Iranian government, Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a phone call that Tehran would not engage in “imposed talks” under threats. Pezeshkian said the US must first remove obstacles, including its maritime blockade, before negotiators can lay the groundwork for a settlement.
