Iran has scorned Trump’s negotiations after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed Pakistan Saturday without meeting U.S. officials. Add that to another attempted assassination, and Trump is not having a good start to his week.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump—considerate of Steve Witkoff’s and Vice President J.D. Vance’s increasing jet lag—said, “They can call us anytime they want, but you’re not going to be making any more 18-hour flights to sit around talking about nothing.”
The ostensible reason for Araghchi’s early departure is that Iran will not engage in negotiations with the U.S. while the blockade is ongoing.
More interesting than the demand is the demander: Araghchi, a member of the more flexible civilian leadership, is parroting the IRGC talking points: zero flexibility, maximalist demands, and preconditions to delay or constrain talks.
