President Donald Trump said Sunday that U.S. officials will not be traveling to Pakistan for peace negotiations related to the ongoing war with Iran, arguing that discussions should happen through direct contact with Washington instead of lengthy international trips.
During a call-in appearance on Fox News’s “The Sunday Briefing,” Trump said, “We have all the cards. If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us.”
On Saturday, Trump also announced he had canceled a planned diplomatic mission to Islamabad. He wrote that he had halted the trip of U.S. representatives scheduled to meet Iranian officials, saying, “Too much time wasted on traveling... Nobody knows who is in charge, including them... If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!”
The cancellation followed the scrapping of Vice President Vance’s planned visit to Islamabad last week, where he was expected to participate in talks alongside U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Trump also said an Iran ceasefire would remain in place indefinitely unless Tehran presented a proposal to end the conflict, adding, “Very simple. They cannot have a nuclear weapon, otherwise there’s no reason to meet,” in comments to Fox News.
The administration continues to navigate tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has reportedly deployed mines and U.S. forces have enforced a naval blockade aimed at restricting maritime movement and pressure Tehran economically. Trump said Iranian military capabilities have been heavily diminished, stating that U.S. operations have effectively eliminated Iran’s navy and air force.
In a statement posted to social media, Iran’s embassy in South Africa warned of escalation if attacks continue during negotiations. The embassy said Iran has prepared for the “largest missile strike in history” against U.S. and Israeli bases in West Asia if provoked.
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