President Donald Trump called off a planned trip by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan just hours before they were set to leave for talks linked to Iran.
Trump told Fox News White House correspondent Aishah Hasnie by phone on Saturday, April 25, that he had spoken to his team, who were ready to depart.
“I’ve told my people a little while ago they were getting ready to leave, and I said, ‘Nope, you’re not making an 18-hour flight to go there,’” Trump said.
“We have all the cards. They can call us anytime they want, but you’re not going to be making any more 18-hour flights to sit around talking about nothing.”
The cancellation came after Iranian officials made clear they had no plans for direct meetings with U.S. representatives in Islamabad.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Pakistan but left without engaging in talks with the American side.
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Earlier Iranian statements indicated that Araghchi would only pass along observations to Pakistani officials, not meet U.S. envoys.
The planned trip had been part of efforts to discuss a possible end to tensions in the Middle East, particularly the war in Iran, which is the main reason for the issues around the Strait of Hormuz that have paralyzed the world’s oil supply.
Witkoff, a longtime Trump associate, and Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, had been tapped as special envoys for the diplomatic push.
Recent reports had pointed to uncertainty about whether any direct U.S.-Iran contact would take place in Pakistan.
What does Trump’s move mean?
Trump’s decision leaves the diplomatic track in disarray. The White House had signaled in prior weeks that the envoys, along with Vice President JD Vance in some planning, would head to Islamabad for a second round of talks. Those plans now sit canceled.
A senior administration official confirmed the about-face but offered no further details concerning next steps.
Trump’s statement makes plain his view that the U.S. holds leverage and sees no point in long travel for talks that may lead nowhere.
The move adds to the ambiguous signals from the U.S. side in recent weeks. Earlier reports had described active preparations for the Pakistan meetings, with Pakistani officials acting as mediators.
Egypt’s foreign minister also held calls with Pakistan to support a diplomatic path between Washington and Tehran.
Iran has repeatedly said it will not hold direct negotiations with the Trump administration during the current visit.
Tehran has taken its own position on ending regional conflicts and has instead conveyed its messages through third parties.
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The cancellation leaves questions about how the administration will handle Iran policy going forward. Trump has insisted the U.S. is in a strong position and that Iran must come to the table on American terms. He has warned against what he calls fruitless diplomacy.
The new twist shows the challenges of dealing with Iran amid continuing regional tensions. Ceasefire extensions between Israel and Lebanon remain in place but are fragile. The Strait of Hormuz, a key oil route, is still a point of concern.
With no new date set for any future U.S.-Iran contact, Trump maintains that the U.S. will not send officials on long flights for empty discussions. Iran, he said, knows how to reach Washington if it wants to talk.
The abrupt halt leaves diplomats and regional players watching for the next move. For now, the planned talks in Pakistan are off, and confusion hangs over the U.S. approach to Iran.
