Trump Opens Door to Tehran While Canceling Diplomatic Mission: 'Iran Can Call Us' to Negotiate War End

Trump Extends Informal Invitation to Iran Despite Scrapping Envoy Visit

President Donald Trump has indicated that Iran can initiate direct contact with the United States through telephone channels if the nation wishes to pursue negotiations aimed at concluding the ongoing conflict. Speaking during a Fox News interview, Trump stated: "If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us. You know, there is a telephone. We have nice, secure lines."

The statement follows Trump's decision to cancel a scheduled diplomatic mission to Pakistan by senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Saturday, which the president characterized as impractical to undertake "without a plan." Trump cited the substantial travel distance and what he described as insufficient Iranian concessions as reasons for abandoning the engagement.

Iranian Diplomat Continues Regional Tour Despite Cancelled Talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi departed Islamabad after conducting discussions exclusively with Pakistani officials, having initially arrived for what was intended to be trilateral negotiations. Despite the absence of American representatives, Araqchi subsequently returned to the city before proceeding to other regional capitals.

Prior to his departure, Araqchi indicated that conversations had focused on "the latest developments related to the ceasefire" and Tehran's "views and considerations." His delegation exited the Pakistani capital shortly following their meetings with mediating officials.

Regional Tensions Persist Amid Stalled Negotiations

In a parallel development, Israel has mandated the evacuation of civilians from several municipalities in southern Lebanon, notwithstanding the existence of a three-week ceasefire arrangement between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. Both parties have lodged accusations of treaty violations against one another.

The escalating situation underscores the fragility of current diplomatic arrangements and the persistence of military tensions across multiple fronts in the region.

Diplomatic Shuffle: Iran Pivots to Moscow Following Failed Pakistan Mission

With prospects for an immediate agreement appearing diminished, Araqchi subsequently traveled to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin following consultations held in Oman on Sunday and a brief return visit to Islamabad.

According to reporting by Axios, Iran had presented Washington with a revised proposal designed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and terminate hostilities. The White House declined to provide commentary regarding the purported Iranian initiative.

Economic Toll Continues as Strait Remains Sealed

With the critical waterway remaining closed to traffic, crude oil was trading at $96 per barrel on Monday morning, representing a 1.84 percent increase from the previous day's closing. The lowest point reached during the current pricing cycle occurred on April 17, when oil traded at $82 per barrel.

Araqchi announced that Iran and Oman have agreed to maintain expert-level consultations focused on guaranteeing secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz and safeguarding mutual interests in the waterway. This commitment emerged during the foreign minister's arrival in Saint Petersburg for his scheduled engagement with Putin, concluding his broader regional diplomatic circuit.

UK Government Mobilizes to Prevent Summer Supply Crisis

The British government is undertaking urgent measures to secure adequate supplies of carbon dioxide for food production and brewing operations, while simultaneously developing contingency strategies to address potential jet fuel shortages during the summer season.

Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, stated: "If there is a problem with jet fuel on holidays and carbon dioxide on beer, the summer might be pretty depressing for people, but we're doing everything we can to make sure that it's not the case."

Aviation authorities are preparing to streamline procedures for flight cancellations without penalizing airline slot allocations, and temporary modifications to regulations mandating partial-load flight operations are under consideration. Confidential governmental assessments have raised concerns about potential shortages of specific food items on supermarket shelves should the Strait of Hormuz closure extend into the summer months.

Price Increases Expected to Persist for Months After Conflict Resolution

British households could experience elevated costs for energy, food, and air travel for approximately eight months following the war's conclusion, according to warnings issued by Treasury officials.

Jones cautioned the BBC: "I think our best guess is eight-plus months from the point of resolution that you'll see economic impacts coming through the system." He added: "You're going to see prices go up a bit as a consequence of what Donald Trump has done in the Middle East. That's probably going to come online not just in the next few weeks, but the next few months. There's going to be a long tail from this."

Iran Proposes Sequenced Resolution: Strait First, Nuclear Talks Later

According to Axios sources, Iran has transmitted a modified proposal through Pakistani intermediaries suggesting that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and conclusion of hostilities should precede nuclear negotiations. This approach would circumvent the most contentious aspect of discussions—Iran's uranium enrichment stockpile—thereby expediting an agreement.

The framework envisions either an extended ceasefire or permanent termination of the conflict, with nuclear discussions commencing only after waterway restoration and removal of the American naval blockade.

White House Spokesperson Olivia Wales declined to confirm negotiations while emphasizing that "These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the US will not negotiate through the press," adding that Washington maintains leverage and would "only make a deal that puts the American people first, never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon."

Oil Markets React to Diplomatic Gridlock

Crude oil prices increased by approximately two percent on Monday, reaching a three-week peak of $107.97 per barrel, as interrupted US-Iran peace efforts prolonged disruptions to Middle Eastern energy distribution. The Strait of Hormuz continues to experience negligible commercial shipping traffic.

Goldman Sachs substantially raised its year-end Brent crude forecast from $80 to $90 per barrel, though this projection assumes normalization of Gulf energy exports by June's conclusion. The institution cautioned: "Non-linear price increases are likely if inventories drop to critically low levels, which we have not seen in the last few decades."