South Africa tour of India 2019
Trump Cancels Pakistan Trip for Iran Talks, Says US ‘Holds All the Cards’
Donald Trump has announced that American negotiators will not travel to Pakistan for proposed talks with Iran, asserting that Washington currently holds a dominant position in the conflict. The decision follows the departure of Abbas Araghchi from Islamabad after high-level discussions with Pakistan’s leadership.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump revealed that US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had initially been preparing for the trip. However, he personally intervened to cancel the visit, describing it as unnecessary. According to Trump, the United States has significant leverage in the ongoing tensions and does not need to engage in lengthy overseas negotiations.
He emphasized that Iran could initiate communication at any time if it wished to pursue dialogue, suggesting that Washington would not “waste time” traveling for unproductive discussions. His remarks signal a shift toward a more hardline diplomatic stance, prioritizing strategic advantage over traditional negotiation channels.
Araghchi’s visit to Pakistan had raised hopes for a second round of indirect talks between the US and Iran, following earlier discussions held on April 11–12 that ended without a breakthrough. During his stay, the Iranian minister met key Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir.
The broader conflict traces back to February 28, when the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iranian targets, triggering retaliatory actions by Tehran. The escalation has since spread across the Gulf region, raising concerns about regional stability and global economic disruption.
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