Trump says if Iran’s leaders want to talk, ‘all they have to do is call’

US-Iran Ceasefire Talks Collapse as Envoys Stay Away

Attempts at ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran collapsed Saturday after Tehran’s top diplomat left Pakistan and President Donald Trump’s envoys canceled their trip to Islamabad under presidential orders.

The failed talks mark a setback following historic face-to-face discussions earlier this month between U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf. These were intended to ease tensions in a conflict that has disrupted global shipping and sent oil prices soaring.

“If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!” Trump declared on social media, indicating the ball is now in Iran’s court.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed Islamabad Saturday evening, according to Pakistani officials speaking on condition of anonymity. Araghchi traveled to Oman—a nation with a history of mediating between Iran and Western powers—before planning a return to Pakistan and subsequent trip to Russia.

Before leaving, Araghchi shared on social media that he had communicated “Iran’s position concerning workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran,” but added he had “yet to see if the U.S. is truly serious about diplomacy.”

Trust remains a central issue, with Iranian officials questioning American sincerity after U.S. forces began blockading Iranian ports in response to Iran’s control over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of global oil shipments pass.

The breakdown in negotiations comes amid continuing economic fallout from the two-month conflict. The price of Brent crude oil has surged nearly 50% since hostilities began, as Iran’s grip on the strait disrupts global shipments of oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizer, and other essential supplies.

Even as diplomatic efforts faltered, military tensions remained high. Iran’s joint military command warned Saturday that “if the U.S. continues its aggressive military actions, including naval blockades, banditry, and piracy,” it will face a “strong response.” Meanwhile, Trump has ordered the military to “shoot and kill” small boats suspected of placing mines in the strait.

The collapsed talks also reflected procedural disagreements. Iran’s foreign ministry had earlier stipulated that any negotiations would be indirect, with Pakistani officials serving as intermediaries. Trump later told journalists that within 10 minutes of canceling his envoys’ trip—Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—Iran had sent a “much better” proposal, though he did not elaborate on its contents.

Several contentious issues remain unresolved, including Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s missile program, and its support for armed proxies across the Middle East. Trump emphasized that one of his conditions is that Iran “will not have a nuclear weapon.”

Tehran’s wariness stems partly from its experience last year, when indirect talks over its nuclear program ended with Iran being attacked by both the U.S. and Israel.

In a positive development amid the tensions, Iran resumed commercial flights from Tehran’s international airport Saturday for the first time since the war began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28. Flights were scheduled to depart for Istanbul, Oman’s capital Muscat, and the Saudi city of Medina.

Meanwhile, another ceasefire—between Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah—faced challenges as both sides exchanged fire on Saturday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to “vigorously attack Hezbollah targets in Lebanon” after Israel struck southern Lebanon, killing at least six people it identified as Hezbollah militants. Several rockets and drones were subsequently launched at Israel from Lebanon.

The human toll of these interconnected conflicts continues to mount. Since hostilities began, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran and 2,496 in Lebanon, with 23 deaths in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Additionally, 15 Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, 13 U.S. service members in the region, and six U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon have lost their lives.

As regional tensions persist, the collapse of these talks represents a significant setback for diplomatic efforts to stabilize one of the world’s most volatile regions.