Trump says cancelled US envoys' Pakistan trip, but war not resuming

WASHINGTON, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Apr, 2026) President Donald Trump has cancelled a planned trip to Pakistan by U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff for peace talks with Iran, stating the move does not mean the resumption of U.S.-Israel war against the Islamic republic, although he noted that "if Iran wants to talk, all they have to do is call".

The decision follows the departure of Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, from Islamabad without meeting directly with U.S. officials.

The envoys had been expected to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a trip designed to break a diplomatic stalemate and build momentum for a deal.

"I see no point in sending them on an 18-hour flight in the current situation [of the negotiations]. It's too long. We can do it just as well by telephone. The Iranians can call us if they want.

We are not gonna travel just to sit there," the president said Saturday.

Asked whether it means he is going to resume the war, Trump said: "No. It doesn't mean that. We haven't thought about it yet.

"We have all the cards. We are not going to go there to sit around talking about nothing."

While Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran, the diplomatic efforts haven't made any significant progress in recent days.

FM Araghchi met on Saturday in Islamabad with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, who have been mediating between the sides.

About an hour after FM Araghchi left Islamabad, Trump decided to cancel the trip.

"Have yet to see if the U.S. is truly serious about diplomacy," FM Araghchi said in a post on X, thanking the Pakistanis for their efforts.