U.S.-Iran peace hopes fade as Trump scraps talks

Hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough faded on Sunday, as efforts to revive talks stalled and ⁠both Tehran and Washington showed little sign of softening their positions.

ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON — Hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran faded on Sunday, as efforts to revive talks stalled and ⁠both Tehran and Washington showed little sign of softening their positions.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi flew back to the Middle East from mediation talks in Pakistan over the weekend, while U.S. President Donald Trump scrapped a planned visit to Islamabad by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Although a ceasefire has paused full-scale fighting in the conflict, which began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February ⁠28, no agreement has been reached on terms to end ​a ⁠war that has killed thousands, driven up oil prices, fuelled inflation and darkened the outlook for global growth.