US President Donald Trump has canceled a planned trip by senior American envoys to Pakistan for a second round of negotiations linked to the Iran war, casting new doubt over already fragile diplomatic efforts.
The delegation, expected to include special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, had been preparing to travel to Islamabad for talks aimed at easing tensions between Washington and Tehran. Pakistan had been acting as a mediator after helping broker a temporary ceasefire earlier this month.
Trump said he called off the visit because it would waste too much time, adding that if Iran wanted talks, “all they have to do is call.” He also claimed the United States “has all the cards,” while accusing Iran’s leadership of internal confusion and power struggles.
The cancellation came shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had held meetings in Islamabad, where he reportedly presented Tehran’s position on ending the conflict. Iranian officials have said they remain open to negotiations but insist that US blockades, threats, and breaches of commitments are preventing genuine progress.
The diplomatic setback comes as both sides remain locked in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has restricted passage through the strategic waterway following US and Israeli strikes launched in February, while Washington has expanded naval deployments and enforced a blockade on Iranian-linked shipping.
US officials say the pressure campaign is weakening Iran economically, while Tehran continues to demand relief measures before any direct breakthrough. Trump said the ceasefire would remain in place for now, though no timeline has been given for renewed face-to-face talks.
With tensions unresolved, stalled diplomacy, and critical global shipping lanes still under pressure, hopes for a negotiated end to the conflict have suffered another major setback.
Sources: Fox News, BBC, CNN
