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Trump cancels Iran peace talks, citing US leverage
In a surprising move, President Donald Trump abruptly called off a planned diplomatic visit to Pakistan, which was aimed at fostering peace talks with Iran. Trump asserted that the United States possesses a strong negotiating position, suggesting that Iranian leaders are free to initiate contact at their convenience. Meanwhile, correspondent Matt Finn sheds light on the stalled negotiations, and retired Navy Captain Brent Sadler examines the increasing U.S. military presence in the Strait of Hormuz, along with new economic sanctions impacting approximately 40 entities tied to Iran’s oil industry in China.
Amidst this diplomatic deadlock, there are signs of upheaval within Iran’s negotiating team. Reports indicate that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a known hardliner, is poised to be replaced by a seasoned conservative who has historically opposed nuclear concessions.
According to Iran International, Saeed Jalili, an influential figure at 60 years old, is expected to take over from Ghalibaf. Jalili currently leads what is often referred to as a “shadow government” and is anticipated to step into Ghalibaf’s role following his abrupt exit due to internal disagreements.
Jalili is also at the helm of the Stability Front (Paydari), a faction recognized for its staunch ultra-conservatism within Iran. This group is often described as a stronghold of hardline principles.
Ali Safavi, an official with the Iranian opposition group National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), informed Fox News Digital that Jalili has transformed from a nuclear negotiator into a significant player within the regime’s inner circles.
Jalili Saeed is expected to succeed Ghalibaf following his sudden departure amid internal disputes. (Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)
Ghalibaf was reportedly forced to step down after attempting to bring the nuclear issue into talks with Washington, a move that triggered backlash within Iran’s political establishment.
President Donald Trump had called off plans for U.S. envoys to travel to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran on April 25.
The rivalry between Jalili and Ghalibaf is said to span more than a decade and intensified during the 2024 elections, when Jalili refused to step aside, contributing to the victory of President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Safavi said, “The increased visibility of latent divisions stems from recurring nationwide uprisings, deep economic crises and the pressures of war, all of which have intensified internal feuding.
“Far from signaling transformation, these developments reflect accelerating erosion and mounting pressure, deepening fractures and leaving the regime ever weaker and more vulnerable,” he added.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 27, 2024. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS)
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also seeking a continued leading role in negotiations, highlighting competing centers of influence over Iran’s diplomatic strategy, sources said.
Araghchi is in Islamabad, Pakistan, after returning from a short trip to Muscat, Oman, where he is holding high-level diplomatic talks on the conflict. Reports indicate Araghchi will travel to Moscow.
Jalili’s potential appointment, however, signals a hardening of Iran’s stance, with more emphasis on resistance over compromise.
“Within this regime, there are a number of constants espoused by all factions,” Safavi said before highlighting that these were “repression, the export of terrorism and the pursuit of nuclear weapons.”
“The factions all ultimately move along a common path: the preservation of power. They differ in methods, not in objectives,” Safavi cautioned.
Jalili, meanwhile, served as Iran’s top nuclear negotiator from 2007 to 2013 under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and later ran for president three times. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Jalili, meanwhile, served as Iran’s top nuclear negotiator from 2007 to 2013 under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and later ran for president three times. He also served as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
A former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Jalili lost his right leg at 21 during the Iran-Iraq War, earning him the title of “Living Martyr”.
The Paydari Front, which he is associated with, opposes engagement with the West — particularly the 2015 nuclear deal — and advocates a doctrine of “active resistance.”
During Hassan Rouhani’s presidency, Jalili also established a “shadow government” to counter the administration’s policies, especially the nuclear deal.
On April 7, he wrote on X: “Yes — ‘infrastructure’ is on the verge of collapse; the infrastructure of domination and the American order. And after that, a better foundation will be built.”
A day earlier, he posted: “‘Shut up’ is not the appropriate response to Trump’s ramblings; let him speak more. Nothing is more effective in laying bare the true nature of the United States than Trump’s outbursts.”
“In dealing with this regime,” Safavi said, “we must bear in mind that in the 45 years since the mullahs consolidated their rule in 1981 by crushing all peaceful political life, so-called reformists have governed for nearly half that time — presiding over some of its darkest crimes.”
“These include the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners, the assassination of dissidents abroad, the chain murders of intellectuals inside Iran and the relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons.”