United States President Donald Trump has called off a planned diplomatic visit by his envoys to Pakistan, where discussions with Iranian officials were expected to focus on ending the ongoing Iran-related conflict.
The cancelled trip, which was meant to include senior aides Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, was originally designed as part of a renewed push for indirect peace talks between Washington and Tehran.
Speaking to Fox News on Saturday, Trump confirmed the decision, insisting it should not be interpreted as an immediate escalation of military action.
“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,” he said.
When asked whether the cancellation signalled a possible resumption of hostilities, Trump dismissed the suggestion, saying: “No. It doesn’t mean that. We haven’t thought about it yet.”
The development comes as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi concluded high-level meetings in Islamabad, where he met with Pakistan’s military leadership and top government officials as part of ongoing regional mediation efforts.
Araghchi has since left for Muscat and is expected to continue diplomatic consultations in Russia.
Iran’s foreign ministry described the Pakistan talks as “fruitful,” saying they included discussions on a possible framework to end the conflict.
However, Iranian officials also questioned Washington’s willingness to fully commit to diplomacy.
Despite ongoing backchannel efforts, prospects for direct negotiations remain uncertain.
Iranian state media indicated that Tehran is unwilling to engage in talks while the U.S. maintains pressure through maritime restrictions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route.
The situation continues to heighten tensions across global energy markets, even as diplomatic efforts persist through third-party intermediaries.
