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A planned US negotiating mission to Pakistan involving President Donald Trump’s senior envoys has been abruptly called off, signaling another sharp turn in already volatile efforts to engage Iran.

The delegation—expected to include special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump adviser Jared Kushner—will no longer make the long-haul trip for Iran-related discussions, Trump confirmed in comments to Fox News and later to reporters in Florida.

Trump said the decision was made to avoid what he described as unnecessary transcontinental travel “to sit around talking about nothing,” framing the cancellation as a matter of leverage rather than retreat.

“We have all the cards,” Trump says

Speaking from Palm Beach, Trump dismissed the need for in-person meetings that would require “15 to 18 hours in airplanes,” insisting that Washington holds the upper hand.

“We have all the cards,” Trump said. “They can call us anytime they want.”

He added that future engagement would likely be conducted remotely, stressing: “We’re not going to spend our time flying across the world to receive a document that’s not good enough.”

Trump also reiterated his central demand: “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” describing the issue as straightforward regardless of diplomatic complexity.

Iranian delegation exits Pakistan talks

The cancellation came as Iranian officials were already winding down separate discussions in Islamabad. Two Pakistani government sources told Reuters that Iran’s delegation had departed, shortly after Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Pakistani counterparts.

Iranian state media confirmed Araghchi’s exit following what he described as a “very fruitful” visit.

On social media platform X, Araghchi said Iran had presented “a workable framework to permanently end the war,” while questioning whether the US was “truly serious about diplomacy.”

Pakistan positions itself as mediator

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in what he called a “warm and constructive” call, according to a post on X.

Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s willingness to act as a “sincere facilitator” between the US and regional stakeholders, including Israel. He also confirmed a prior meeting with Araghchi before the Iranian delegation left the country.

Confusion over diplomatic signals

Adding to the diplomatic friction, Iran’s embassy in South America issued a sharply worded response, saying it was unclear “whom we are speaking to, representatives of the United States or of Israel,” underscoring Tehran’s uncertainty about Washington’s negotiating posture.