Trump Cancels U.S. Envoys’ Trip to Pakistan for Iran Talks, Citing Strong U.S. Position

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has canceled the planned trip by special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner to Islamabad for potential Iran peace talks, delivering the latest setback to diplomatic efforts amid the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire.

In a Friday interview with Fox News, Trump told reporters Trey Yingst and Aishah Hasnie he instructed his team not to make the journey. “I’ve told my people… ‘Nope, you’re not making an 18 hour flight… We have all the cards. They can call us anytime,’” he said.

The decision came hours after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Pakistan without any direct engagement with U.S. officials. Araghchi had arrived in Islamabad on Friday and met only with Pakistani leaders, including Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Iranian officials explicitly stated no meeting with the American delegation was planned and that Iran’s position would be relayed solely through Pakistani intermediaries.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had earlier confirmed the envoys’ travel, saying they were going “to hear the Iranians out” and expressing hope for progress toward an “everlasting” deal. Vice President JD Vance had been on standby to join if needed.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei reiterated that Tehran would not negotiate while the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect. The blockade has already cost Iran hundreds of millions of dollars daily in lost oil revenue.

Pakistani officials continue to offer mediation, but with both sides now pulling back from direct talks, momentum has stalled. The original ceasefire, brokered by Trump earlier this month, was extended indefinitely after the first round of talks in Pakistan produced no agreement.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint, with recent Iranian gunboat activity, ship seizures, and U.S. enforcement actions continuing despite the pause in major hostilities.

For American families and global energy markets still experiencing price volatility from disruptions in the critical waterway, the canceled trip and mutual recriminations highlight the difficulty of converting the ceasefire into a lasting nuclear and regional agreement. No new meeting date has been announced.

The latest developments underscore the challenges in moving from ceasefire to a lasting agreement. No new meeting schedule has been announced.