President Trump has canceled plans for envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to travel to Islamabad for talks aimed at breaking the diplomatic deadlock with Iran, citing lack of progress in negotiations.
The decision came Saturday after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Pakistani officials but declined to commit to meeting the American envoys. Trump told Axios the 18-hour flight was not worth the effort given the current state of talks.
"I see no point of sending them on an 18-hour flight in the current situation," Trump said. "It's too long. We can do it just as well by telephone. The Iranians can call us if they want. We are not gonna travel just to sit there."
The envoys had been positioned to hold discussions that officials hoped would revive stalled negotiations. Instead, Trump determined a phone call would serve the same purpose.
The cancellation reflects mounting frustration with Iran's negotiating posture. Araghchi's meetings in Islamabad, where Pakistani officials have been serving as intermediaries, ended without breakthrough. The Iranian foreign minister signaled that Tehran demands removal of the U.S. naval blockade before substantive talks can proceed.
Trump pushed back against the precondition. "We have all the cards. We are not going to go there to sit around talking about nothing," he said.
The president has extended a ceasefire with Iran but acknowledged that diplomatic efforts have stalled in recent days. Trump attributed delays to internal chaos on the Iranian side, posting on Truth Social that there is "tremendous infighting and confusion within their 'leadership.' Nobody knows who is in charge, including them."
When asked whether the canceled trip signals a return to military action, Trump clarified it does not. "No. It doesn't mean that. We haven't thought about it yet," he said.
The decision underscores the fragility of the current diplomatic track. While a ceasefire remains in place, the window for progress appears to be narrowing, with neither side showing signs of movement on core demands.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's reading of the situation is straightforward, but canceling the trip risks signaling weakness to Iran at a moment when momentum matters most."
Comments