Trump cancels Pakistan mission for Iran ceasefire talks as UK ramps up contingency planning
The UK government is escalating contingency planning for potential shortages as the Iran conflict disrupts global energy flows and ceasefire diplomacy falters, with President Donald Trump canceling a planned Pakistan stop for US negotiators.
Oil prices have surged since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28, driven by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery that previously handled about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas.
Trump said he called off a visit to Islamabad by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, arguing the US delegation was not going to travel that far “without a plan.” “I just cancelled the trip of my representatives going to Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians.
Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work!” he wrote on Truth Social.
Speaking to reporters after a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, he added: “It’s not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran.” Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said he had discussed “the latest developments related to the ceasefire” and Tehran’s “views and considerations” in Pakistan, and expressed a willingness to continue mediation efforts.
Iran had insisted that no direct talks with Washington were scheduled to take place. The delegation left Islamabad shortly after meeting Pakistani officials. The confrontation has choked traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, with only three vessels passing the waterway in one 24‑hour period, according to shipping data.
More than a dozen tankers transited after Iran briefly declared the strait open on Friday. A ceasefire between the US and Iran appeared in jeopardy on Tuesday as Tehran vowed to retaliate for the US seizure of one of its vessels and refused to join new peace talks.
In London, the Prime Minister will chair another meeting of the Cabinet committee set up to manage the fallout this Tuesday, following last week’s Middle East Response Committee session. A separate contingency group of ministers, led by Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones, also meets twice weekly.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner incident rippled abroad. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was shocked by the shooting, which saw Trump and JD Vance escorted out by security officials, and wrote that he was relieved the president and first lady were safe.
He wished a speedy recovery to a wounded police officer and praised the US Secret Service for its response. Meanwhile, the scope of recent Iranian attacks on US military facilities may be greater than publicly acknowledged, NBC reported, citing three US officials who said the damage was extensive and wide‑reaching.
The headquarters of the US Navy in Bahrain, the center for the Navy’s operations in the region, suffered serious damage, with some parts of the building sustaining destruction that was likely more repairable, according to the report. Bases had been largely cleared of troops, leaving them vulnerable to attack.
The American Enterprise Institute found that multiple hangars and warehouses at the Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait were also hit. With shipping still constrained and ceasefire prospects uncertain, UK officials plan to continue twice‑weekly contingency meetings, while regional diplomacy and military risks keep energy markets on edge.