Washington, DC, April 26 (ANI): Donald Trump has cancelled the planned visit of senior U.S. envoys to Islamabad for a second round of peace talks with Iran, citing internal divisions within Iran’s leadership, lack of meaningful progress, and logistical concerns.
The cancelled delegation included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Senior Adviser Jared Kushner. The trip was intended to continue negotiations aimed at resolving ongoing hostilities in West Asia, with Pakistan acting as mediator.
In a statement, Trump criticized Iran’s leadership, describing it as plagued by “tremendous infighting and confusion,” and questioned the value of sending officials on what he called an unnecessary 18-hour journey. He emphasized that the U.S. holds a strong negotiating position, stating, “We have all the cards,” and insisted that Iran should initiate contact if it seeks further dialogue.
Trump also expressed dissatisfaction with the level of engagement from Tehran, noting that U.S. officials were not scheduled to meet top Iranian leadership. He dismissed the proposed timeline and structure of the talks as inefficient and costly, describing himself as “cost-conscious” in rejecting the trip.
The decision followed the departure of an Iranian delegation from Islamabad, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who had held discussions with Pakistani leaders. According to reports, Iran presented an “official list of demands” aimed at achieving a broader resolution involving the U.S. and Israel before leaving the Pakistani capital.
Despite cancelling the trip, Trump indicated that the move produced an immediate response. He claimed that Iran submitted a revised and improved proposal within minutes of the cancellation, though he maintained that it still fell short of U.S. expectations, saying, “They offered a lot, but not enough.”
A central U.S. demand remains unchanged: Iran must not develop nuclear weapons. Trump reiterated that this objective is non-negotiable and described the issue as straightforward.
The cancellation represents a setback for Pakistan’s efforts to broker a second round of negotiations. Earlier talks in Islamabad, which included U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, lasted over 20 hours but failed to produce a breakthrough.
Meanwhile, Araghchi has continued diplomatic efforts with planned visits to Oman and Russia, as uncertainty remains over the future of negotiations and the stability of the current ceasefire.
Trump concluded by reiterating that the next steps depend on Iran’s willingness to engage directly, stating, “If they want to talk, all they have to do is call.”
US–Iran tensions deepen amid stalled diplomacy
President Donald Trump has abruptly cancelled a planned visit by senior American envoys to Islamabad for a second round of peace talks with Iran, citing internal divisions within Iran’s leadership, lack of meaningful progress, and concerns over time and cost.
The cancelled delegation included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner, who were expected to engage Iranian officials as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve escalating hostilities in West Asia.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the decision was driven by “tremendous infighting and confusion” within Iran’s leadership, adding that “nobody knows who is in charge.” He also emphasized the U.S. negotiating position, stating, “We have all the cards; they have none. If they want to talk, all they have to do is call.”
Speaking separately to Fox News, Trump dismissed the planned trip as unnecessary, saying he would not send officials on an “18-hour flight to sit around talking about nothing.” He further criticized the absence of top-level Iranian leadership in the proposed meetings, calling them unproductive and not worth the logistical effort.
Iran’s response and diplomatic breakdown
Meanwhile, Iran signaled a firm stance against negotiating under pressure. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Tehran would not engage in talks while a U.S. naval blockade remains in place.
In a phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pezeshkian said Iran would not negotiate “under pressure, threats, or blockade,” urging Washington to remove military and economic restrictions before meaningful dialogue can resume.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier visited Islamabad, where he presented a “workable framework” aimed at permanently ending the conflict. However, the Iranian delegation departed after submitting an official list of demands, leaving Pakistan’s mediation efforts in uncertainty.
Talks collapse despite earlier momentum
The cancelled meeting would have followed an earlier round of negotiations in Islamabad involving U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. That session reportedly lasted over 20 hours but failed to produce any breakthrough.
Trump later defended his decision, stating that Iran’s proposal “offered a lot but not enough,” particularly regarding U.S. demands for a long-term suspension—reportedly up to 20 years—on uranium enrichment.
He also claimed that cancelling the trip prompted an immediate response from Tehran, saying a revised proposal was delivered within minutes and was “much better.” Despite this, Trump reiterated his core objective: “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Very simple.”
Uncertain path forward
The collapse of the Islamabad talks is seen as a setback for Pakistan, which had positioned itself as a key mediator in the conflict. With diplomatic momentum stalled and both sides holding firm positions, the future of negotiations remains unclear.
Trump indicated that any further engagement would occur on U.S. terms, likely without additional overseas travel. At the same time, Iran continues to insist that meaningful dialogue cannot occur unless U.S. pressure tactics are lifted.
With a broader peace framework deadline approaching in early May and the status of a ceasefire uncertain, the situation remains volatile, with both sides signaling openness to talks—but only under sharply different conditions.
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