President Donald Trump announced he is withdrawing the U.S. delegation from peace talks with Iran in Pakistan after declaring Iran’s latest offer insufficient, despite earlier signals of willingness to negotiate.
The decision marks the 57th day of escalating hostilities between the United States, Iran, and Israel, with no official confirmation that scheduled talks in Islamabad would proceed as planned. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt had stated Iran requested the negotiations and that Trump believed Tehran would present a proposal meeting U.S. demands, but Iranian officials swiftly denied having initiated contact or accepting what they described as excessive American preconditions.
Trump later characterized Iran’s offer as “much, but not enough,” claiming he had received a superior alternative within ten minutes of rejecting the initial proposal, though no details of the new document were disclosed. The collapse of talks comes amid intensified military exchanges, including Iranian strikes on U.S. bases across seven Middle Eastern countries that U.S. intelligence sources say have caused damage far exceeding public disclosures, with repair costs projected in the billions of dollars.
According to NBC News citing unnamed sources, Iran has employed rockets, drones, and even F-5 fighter jets in attacks targeting ammunition storage facilities, command centers, aircraft hangars, satellite communication infrastructure, runways, advanced radar systems, and dozens of aircraft — contradicting earlier U.S. assertions that Iran’s air force had not deployed combat jets against American assets. The Pentagon has not detailed the extent of the damage, and U.S. Central Command declined to comment on battle damage assessments.
Meanwhile, Iran’s parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Committee is advancing a 12-point plan to assert strategic control over the Strait of Hormuz, with committee member Fadahosein Maleki confirming the proposal is under active review and that several provisions have already been approved.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was expected to attend the talks in Islamabad, though his participation was not confirmed prior to the breakdown. The absence of verifiable progress underscores the deepening mistrust between the two sides, even as both continue to signal readiness for dialogue through intermediaries.
What prompted Trump to reject Iran’s offer and walk away from negotiations?
Trump stated Iran’s proposal was insufficient to meet U.S. demands, claiming he received a better alternative within ten minutes, though he did not disclose its contents or origin.
How has Iran’s military response evolved since the start of hostilities on February 28?
Iran has used rockets, drones, and F-5 fighter jets to strike U.S. bases across seven countries, targeting infrastructure including command centers, radar systems, and aircraft — contradicting earlier U.S. claims that Iran avoided using combat jets in the conflict.
