Washington: US President Donald Trump has cancelled a planned trip to Pakistan by envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff for Iran peace talks, Fox News reported on Saturday, citing the president. Trump added to Fox News, “They can call us anytime they want.”
The White House on Friday said Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would be going to Pakistan’s capital to attempt to revive ceasefire negotiations. On Day 57 of the Iran conflict, the move underscores the uncertainty around diplomacy, as Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Islamabad without meeting US officials, even as Pakistan attempted to broker indirect negotiations, news agencies Reuters and the Associated Press reported.
Araghchi held talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir, outlining Tehran’s “red lines” before departing, AP reported. There was no sign of direct engagement with US envoys, Reuters and AP said.
Araghchi later described his visit to Pakistan as “very fruitful,” adding in a social media post that he had “shared Iran’s position concerning (a) workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran. Have yet to see if the U.S. is truly serious about diplomacy”.
Iranian media reported that Araghchi had flown to Oman’s capital Muscat, saying he would meet with senior officials to “discuss and exchange views on bilateral relations and regional developments”.
In a brief phone interview, Trump told Fox News that he told US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner “you’re not going to be making any more 18-hour flights to sit around talking about nothing”. Trump also said of the US side “we have all the cards”.
The US president has weighed in on his Truth Social platform to explain why he called off the planned trip to Pakistan by his envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff for Iran peace talks.
“I just cancelled the trip of my representatives going is Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians. Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work!” Trump wrote.
“Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their ‘leadership’. Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards, they have none!”
Tehran signalled it is not ready to уступ on Washington’s terms. “Principally, Iranian side will not accept maximalist demands,” an Iranian diplomatic source told Reuters.
Araghchi said Iran had conveyed its “principled positions” on the ceasefire and the end of what it calls an “imposed war,” while agreeing to continue engagement through Pakistan’s mediation, according to Reuters and AP.
The US maintained pressure. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran still had a chance to make a “good deal,” adding it must abandon nuclear weapons “in meaningful and verifiable ways,” Reuters reported.
Trump had earlier said Iran was preparing an offer to meet U.S. demands, though details remain unclear.
Iran has ruled out direct engagement, insisting all communication be routed through Pakistan, Reuters reported, while AP highlighted Islamabad’s role as a mediator.
The mistrust stems from earlier failed nuclear talks that were followed by U.S.-Israeli strikes — the trigger for the current war, AP reported.
A previous round of negotiations in Pakistan involving US Vice President JD Vance lasted over 20 hours but ended without a breakthrough, according to AP.
