{"id":124906,"date":"2026-04-27T19:38:49","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T14:38:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/?p=124906"},"modified":"2026-04-27T19:39:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T14:39:03","slug":"trump-opts-for-talks-with-iran-over-the-phone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/2026\/124906\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump opts for talks with Iran over the phone"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ISLAMABAD(National Times)- US President Donald Trump on Sunday hinted that peace talks between Washington and Tehran would continue \u2014 but over the phone \u2014 a day after he called off his team\u2019s visit to Islamabad in light of Iran\u2019s reluctance to participate in the dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking to&nbsp;<em>Fox<\/em>&nbsp;News on Sunday, President Trump said he had halted US diplomatic travel for talks, telling Iran it could call, or come to Washington instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe have all the cards,\u201d he said, adding that the US was not sending representatives on an 18-hour journey to Pakistan when it held the stronger negotiating position. \u201cThey know what has to be in the agreement\u2026 They cannot have a nuclear weapon, otherwise there\u2019s no reason to meet,\u201d he said, adding that this action did not mean a return to hostilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The US president also appreciated Pakistan\u2019s role in facilitating the dialogue, saying that he had \u201cgreat respect for Pakistan\u201d and that Islamabad would remain involved in the process. \u201cWe are going to do it by telephone,\u201d he said about the talks with Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Likewise, Iran\u2019s ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam, in a tweet, expressed gratitude to Pakistan, \u201cespecially H.E. Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, for their tireless efforts and good office initiative to end the war and bring lasting peace to the region\u201d. He also appeared grateful for the arrangements made for Araghchi\u2019s visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The statements came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1995258\/irans-araghchi-visits-pakistan-for-2nd-time-in-two-days-envoy-says-trip-undertaken-to-discuss-regional-developments\">left<\/a>&nbsp;Islamabad \u2014 where he made a brief stopover \u2014 for Moscow following his trip to Muscat, where he met the Omani leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Iranian envoy had been in Isla\u00admabad on Saturday as well, when he met the army chief and the prime minister to share Iran\u2019s response to the US proposals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Sunday, Araghchi<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1994680\">&nbsp;sat&nbsp;<\/a>down with Pakistani officials to convey \u201cIran\u2019s positions and views on the framework of any understanding to completely end the war\u201d in the Middle East, before embarking on his trip to Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iranian media said that the second visit had nothing to do with the nuclear talks and that he was back to continue his \u201crecent consultations\u201d,&nbsp;<em>Al Jazeera<\/em>&nbsp;reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After Trump\u2019s statement, it was evident that Islamabad would not be a venue for the next round of talks, at least for now, and restrictions on citizens\u2019 movement in the twin cities were also been lifted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A late-night statement by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announcing the end of restrictions also hinted that the guests had departed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dar tweeted that the restrictions around the Serena Hotel and the red zone had been lifted, as he expressed gratitude to the residents of the twin cities for their \u2018patience and cooperation\u2019. For the past several days, the residents endured traffic jams and roadblocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier, two US Air Force C-17s carrying security staff, equipment and vehicles flew out of Pakistan, two Pakistani government sources told&nbsp;<em>Reuters<\/em>&nbsp;on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Araghchi\u2019s engagements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Muscat, the Iranian FM briefed Oman\u2019s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq \u201con the Iranian side\u2019s perspectives\u201d regarding the regional developments and the peace efforts, said Oman\u2019s foreign ministry. The sultan affirmed the importance of prioritising the language of dialogue and diplomacy in addressing issues in a way that contributed to consolidating the foundations of peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Reuters<\/em>&nbsp;quoted Iran\u2019s foreign ministry saying that they also discussed security in the strait and Araghchi called for a regional security framework free of outside interference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Qatar\u2019s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani also had a phone call with Araghchi. The two officials \u201cdiscussed efforts to achieve peace and enhance security and stability in the region\u201d, said&nbsp;<em>Al Jazeera<\/em>&nbsp;quoting the Qatari foreign ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Iranian envoy also spoke to Saudi, Turkish and Egyptian counterparts, with the&nbsp;<em>IRNA<\/em>&nbsp;news agency reporting that FM Araghchi and FM Badr Abdelatty \u201cdiscussed and exchanged views on issues related to diplomacy and ceasefire, as well as the latest regional developments\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Araghchi discussed regional developments and ongoing diplomatic processes in a telephonic conversation with his Saudi counterpart, Iran\u2019s state media&nbsp;<em>IRIB<\/em>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1995251\">reported<\/a>&nbsp;in a post on X. \u201cIran\u2019s FM Araghchi and Saudi FM Faisal held a phone call, discussing the latest regional developments and ongoing diplomatic processes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Turkiye\u2019s&nbsp;<em>Anadolu<\/em>&nbsp;news agency, meanwhile, reported that the talks between Turkey\u2019s Fidan and Araghchi \u201cfocused on the latest developments in the negotiation process between Iran and the US\u201d. Reuters reported that the Turkish foreign minister also spoke to the US negotiators and discussed latest developments in the Iran-US peace talks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Hormuz blockade deepens<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pressure to end the war has intensified as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Iran\u2019s powerful Revolutionary Guards said they had no intention of lifting their blockade, which has roiled energy markets. \u201cControlling the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the shadow of its deterrent effects over America and the White House\u2019s supporters in the region is the definitive strategy of Islamic Iran,\u201d the Guards said on their official Telegram channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The IRGC also warned of delivering a \u201cbeyond expectation\u201d response to further aggression, according to Iran\u2019s&nbsp;<em>IRNA<\/em>&nbsp;news agency. The statement warned that this restraint \u201ccan at any moment, in the event of miscalculation and any renewed aggressive action by the warmongering and oath-breaking enemy, become the prelude to a \u2018hellish storm\u2019 against them\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, the US Central Command has said it intercepted a merchant vessel trying to get through the blockade of Iran,&nbsp;<em>Reuters<\/em>&nbsp;reported. The ship, identified as the Sevan, was part of a 19-vessel \u201cshadow fleet\u201d transporting Iranian oil and gas products to foreign markets, the US military said. Since the blockade began, 37 ships have been \u201credirected,\u201d the US military said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Separately, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1995249\">discussed&nbsp;<\/a>the urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz during a call,&nbsp;<em>Al Jazeera<\/em>&nbsp;reported, citing a Downing Street spokesperson. \u201cThe prime minister shared the latest progress on his joint initiative with [French] President Macron to restore freedom of navigation,\u201d the spokesperson added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ISLAMABAD(National Times)- US President Donald Trump on Sunday hinted that peace talks between Washington and Tehran would continue \u2014 but over the phone \u2014 a day after he called off his team\u2019s visit to Islamabad in light of Iran\u2019s reluctance to participate in the dialogue. Speaking to&nbsp;Fox&nbsp;News on Sunday, President Trump said he had halted [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":124907,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-124906","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","entry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Trump opts for talks with Iran over the phone - Nation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/2026\/124906\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Trump opts for talks with Iran over the phone - Nation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"ISLAMABAD(National Times)- US President Donald Trump on Sunday hinted that peace talks between Washington and Tehran would continue \u2014 but over the phone \u2014 a day after he called off his team\u2019s visit to Islamabad in light of Iran\u2019s reluctance to participate in the dialogue. 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