Iran's foreign minister leaves Pakistan, then Trump cancels U.S. delegation's travel

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, concluded a visit to Pakistan just before a U.S. delegation, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, was scheduled to arrive for peace talks. President Trump subsequently canceled the U.S. delegation's trip, citing wasted travel time and stating that Iran had offered a "much better" deal, though still "not enough." This development occurred amidst escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, with Israel reporting airstrikes on Hezbollah sites in Lebanon and Hezbollah firing rockets into Israel. The fragile Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, extended by Trump, is linked to broader U.S.-Iran peace efforts, but Iran has dismissed U.S. ceasefire extensions as "meaningless" due to an ongoing U.S. naval blockade. Meanwhile, Spain has pushed back against reports of a Pentagon memo suggesting penalties for NATO allies who did not support the U.S. war in Iran, with Spain being particularly opposed to the conflict. President Trump has also ordered the U.S. Navy to "shoot and kill any boat" attempting to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a move echoed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who criticized European allies for not contributing more. The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on a Chinese oil refinery and numerous firms and tankers accused of aiding Iran's oil economy. Amidst these events, Pope Leo XIV has urged the United States and Iran to return to negotiations, emphasizing the need for dialogue and a "culture of peace" to prevent further innocent casualties.