US President Donald Trump has cancelled the American delegation's trip to Pakistan, putting a nail to the second round of peace talks with Iran. The 79-year-old Republican told Fox News that the 18-hour journey is not worthwhile since the US holds all the cards in the war against the West Asian nation.
"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 flight to go there. We have all the cards. They can call us anytime they want, but you're not going to be making any more 18-hour flights to sit around talking about nothing'," he said.
US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were supposed to head to Islamabad for the second round of discussions.
His remarks came hours after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi met Pakistan's top leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Field Marshal Asim Munir, and left the country.
Iran, however, laid down that it will not accept "maximalist demands" by America. Tehran has time and again been sceptical about trusting the US, pointing out that after talks last year and early this year over its nuclear programme concluded with it being attacked by America and Israel.
Currently, an indefinite ceasefire is in place between the two sides after Trump announced the same, following Pakistan's request for better diplomatic solutions. However, the economic ramifications of the fuel crisis and price jump, and shipments of oil, natural gas and fertilisers, with the near-blockade of the vital Strait of Hormuz, continue.
Iran has said that talks with the US would be indirect, with Pakistan conveying their messages. The West Asian nation has also said that Islamabad's mediation efforts would be appreciated until a result is obtained.
