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Iran Says It Will Not Accept 'maximalist' US Demands as Pakistan Pursues Peace
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 25, 2026
3 min readLast updated: April 25, 2026
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Iran’s FM Abbas Araqchi, touring Islamabad on April 25, declared Tehran won’t accept “maximalist” U.S. demands, even as Pakistan intensifies efforts to broker peace and ease the energy‑market shock from the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
Trump cancels envoys' trip to Islamabad, hopes fade for breakthrough in Iran war
US-Iran Diplomatic Standoff and Regional Implications
By Saad Sayeed, Ariba Shahid and Steve Holland
Envoys' Cancelled Visit and Immediate Reactions
ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON, April 25 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump cancelled a trip to Islamabad by two U.S. envoys to meet Iran war mediator Pakistan on Saturday after Iran's foreign minister flew out of the Pakistani capital following talks, dealing a new setback to peace prospects.
Trump said in a social media post that he had called off the planned visit by his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, citing what he said was termendous confusion it the Iranian leadership.
Trump's Statement on Social Media
"Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their "leadership." Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!" he wrote.
Diplomatic Talks in Islamabad
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had earlier left Islamabad without signs of a breakthrough in talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials.
Tehran has ruled out a new round of direct talks with the United States and an Iranian diplomatic source said Tehran would not accept Washington's "maximalist demands".
Stalemate in Negotiations
Positions of Iran and the United States
IRAN AND US AT AN IMPASSE
Washington and Tehran are at an impasse as Iran has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, while the U.S. blocks Iran's oil exports.
The conflict, in which a ceasefire is in force, began with U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28. Iran has since carried out strikes against Israel, U.S. bases and Gulf states, and the war has pushed up energy prices to multi-year highs, stoking inflation and darkening global growth prospects.
Statements from Iranian Officials
Araqchi "explained our country's principled positions regarding the latest developments related to the ceasefire and the complete end of the imposed war against Iran", said a statement on the minister's official Telegram account.
Asked about Tehran's reservations about U.S. positions in the talks, an Iranian diplomatic source in Islamabad told Reuters: "Principally, Iranian side will not accept maximalist demands."
US Response and Future Prospects
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the U.S. had seen some progress from the Iranian side in recent days and hoped more would come this weekend, while Vice President JD Vance was ready to travel to Pakistan as well.
Previous Negotiation Efforts
Vance led a first round of unsuccessful talks with Iran in Islamabad earlier this month.
(Reporting by Reuters bureaus; Writing by Daniel Trotta, William Mallard, Matthias Williams and Timothy Heritage; Editing by Paul Simao, Edwina Gibbs and Alexander Smith)
Key Takeaways
- •Iran rejected U.S. maximalist demands during talks in Pakistan while conveying its principled positions via mediator Islamabad. (internazionale.it)
- •The fragile ceasefire remains in place as Pakistan pursues back‑channel diplomacy to end a war that has disrupted global energy markets and spurred one of history’s most severe supply shocks. (pakistantoday.com.pk)
- •The Strait of Hormuz closure has inflicted unprecedented disruptions, with the IEA warning of the greatest global energy security threat in history and markets reeling from massive oil‑flow curtailments. (lemonde.fr)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Iran says it will not accept 'maximalist' US demands as Pakistan pursues peace
1What was Iran's position regarding US demands?
Iran stated it would not accept 'maximalist' demands from the US during ongoing talks mediated by Pakistan.
2Who is mediating the talks between Iran and the US?
Pakistan is acting as a mediator between Iran and the US in the ongoing peace efforts.
3How has the conflict affected global oil markets?
The conflict and closure of the Strait of Hormuz have driven global oil prices to multi-year highs, impacting market stability.
4Are there direct talks planned between Iran and the US?
Iran has ruled out direct talks with the US and prefers communication through mediators like Pakistan.
5What recent developments occurred regarding travel and trade in Iran?
International flights from Tehran resumed after a ceasefire extension, with operations expected to increase in the coming days.
