NPR News: 04-25-2026 1PM EDT

President Trump has canceled a planned U.S. delegation trip to Islamabad for talks on ending the war in Iran, amid signals from Iran that it has no interest in direct meetings. The episode also covers Palestinian local elections amid low turnout, U.S. moves to revive older execution methods, a court check on presidential asylum powers, and lighter updates on a K-pop tour and a British royal visit. These stories reflect a mix of geopolitical tensions, domestic policy shifts, and cultural moments as of April 25, 2026.

Stalled Diplomacy on Iran War

Shortly after Iran's foreign minister departed Islamabad, President Trump announced the cancellation of the U.S. delegation's visit, which had been set for potential talks to end the war in Iran. Trump stated simply that if Iran wants to talk, it should call. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Ismail Bakai, posted on X that there are no plans for U.S. meetings; instead, Iran's positions would go through Pakistan's ongoing mediation efforts for regional peace. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif noted discussions on Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations during his meeting with the Iraqi foreign minister—though the transcript cuts off slightly on that detail. This development underscores the fragility of third-party mediation in the Iran conflict, with Pakistan positioned as a conduit but no immediate path for direct U.S.-Iran en