Trump cancels Witkoff and Kushner’s Pakistan trip, says 'we have all the cards' in Iran talks
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump, on Saturday, April 25, said he has canceled a planned trip by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan for talks linked to the Iran conflict, declaring the visit would be a “waste of time.”
Trump added that the United States holds the advantage in negotiations, saying, “we have all the cards.”
Trump cancels trip, says Iran must make the call
In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump confirmed the delegation would no longer travel to Islamabad, where backchannel discussions had been expected.
“I just cancelled the trip of my representatives going to Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians,” Trump wrote.
He said there had been “too much time wasted on traveling, too much work,” signaling frustration with the diplomatic process.
Trump also claimed Iran’s leadership was divided, writing that there was “tremendous infighting and confusion” and that “nobody knows who is in charge, including them.”
He ended the statement with a direct message to Tehran, “We have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!”
Soon after, Aishah Hasnie said Donald Trump reinforced the decision in a direct phone call, revealing he had personally stopped the trip just as aides were preparing to depart.
Trump told her he would not allow officials to make an “18 hour flight” for what he viewed as pointless talks, doubling down on his stance that the US holds the leverage and Iran must make the first move.
🚨 BREAKING: President Trump just told me over the phone he has unilaterally cancelled Witkoff and Kushner’s trip to Pakistan to meet with the Iranians.
— Aishah Hasnie (@aishahhasnie) April 25, 2026
"I've told my people a little while ago they were getting ready to leave, and I said, 'Nope, you're not making an 18 hour…
Talks stall as Trump cancels Pakistan channel
The planned meeting in Islamabad had already been scaled back, with JD Vance not expected to attend and aides Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner set to lead exploratory discussions.
With the trip now canceled by Donald Trump, uncertainty has deepened over whether Washington and Tehran are anywhere close to a breakthrough.
In diplomatic terms, scrapping a publicly discussed visit often signals either serious disagreements or a calculated effort to increase pressure before negotiations resume.
Trump’s remarks suggest he believes the United States holds the upper hand, particularly following recent military and economic moves targeting Iran.
Pakistan had emerged as a potential neutral venue for indirect talks, especially as other channels stalled.
However, with Iran yet to fully commit to high-level participation and Washington pulling back, the gap between both sides appears significant, leaving the future of any near-term dialogue unclear.
