Trump Cancels Sending Envoy to Pakistan, Claims US Holds All the Cards

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – United States President Donald Trump has cancelled plans to send a special US envoy to Pakistan to discuss a ceasefire with Iran. This decision was taken after the Iranian delegation left Islamabad without meeting US officials.

Quoted from CNBC on Sunday (26/4/2026), US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were previously scheduled to depart for Pakistan to negotiate with Iranian representatives.

However, Trump stated that the plan was cancelled because Iran’s chief negotiator only met with Pakistani officials and did not open a channel of dialogue with the US.

“Nobody knows who’s in charge. We hold all the cards, they have none. If they want to talk, just pick up the phone,” Trump continued.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was known to have met with Pakistan’s Military Commander Asim Munir in Islamabad on Saturday (25/4/2026).

However, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry Esmaeil Baqaei emphasised that there was no agenda for a meeting with the United States (US).

“There is no planned meeting between Iran and the US. Iran’s views will be conveyed through Pakistan,” Baqaei said.

In his statement, Araghchi praised Pakistan’s role in promoting regional peace but expressed doubts about the US’s seriousness in diplomacy.

“We have conveyed Iran’s position regarding a framework that could permanently end the war. However, it remains to be seen whether the US is truly serious about diplomacy,” he wrote.

Diplomatic efforts between the two countries are still at an impasse. The first round of peace negotiations held two weeks ago in Islamabad, led by US Vice President JD Vance, ended without agreement.

The main tension centres on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route that has seen reduced activity due to Iranian threats and the US naval blockade.

Trump emphasised that the blockade of Iranian ports will not be lifted until an agreement is reached.