Iran's flurry of diplomacy, as Trump insists U.S. has 'the cards'

This handout photo released by the Iranian foreign ministry shows Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (L) greeting his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi upon his arrival in Islamabad on April 24, 2026. /Iranian Foreign Ministry/AFP via /AFP hide caption toggle caption /Iranian Foreign Ministry/AFP via /AFP Iran's foreign minister arrived in Russia on Monday, after a whirlwind weekend of diplomacy, seeking to gain political leverage and foreign backing as peace talks with the U.S. remain on hold. But missing from this flurry of diplomacy is any sign of a meeting between Washington and Tehran. Abbas Araghchi was in Islamabad last week but left on Saturday, prompting President Trump to cancel the U.S. negotiating team's own planned travel to the Pakistani capital. Araghchi went instead to Oman – which is situated directly across the Strait of Hormuz from Iran – and met Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al and his Omani counterpart. "Important discussions on bilateral matters and regional developments. As only Hormuz littoral states, our focus included ways to ensure safe transit that is to benefit of all dear neighbors and the world," Araghchi said on X. "Our neighbors are our priority." For his part, Oman Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi said he had " a fruitful discussion on the Strait of Hormuz…. …