Trump halts planned trip of US representatives to Iran talks
US President Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
The United States has canceled a planned trip by special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Pakistan to meet with Iranian officials, according to Axios and President Donald Trump.
Reasons to cancel visit
The outlet reports that the US delegation was set to meet in Islamabad with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to break a diplomatic deadlock.
However, the Iranian side demanded the lifting of a naval blockade as a precondition for talks, and Araghchi left Pakistan without agreeing to meet Trump's envoys.
The US president said discussions could instead be held by phone.
"I see no point of sending them on an 18-hour flight in the current situation. 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," Trump said.
Deep divisions inside Iran
He also pointed to disorganization within Iran's leadership.
According to the US leader, internal infighting in Tehran is hindering productive dialogue.
He said that their leadership now faces massive infighting and confusion, as nobody, including them, knows who is in charge, and the United States holds all the cards, while Iran has none.
US-Iran tensions escalate
Tensions between the two countries have been rising sharply in recent weeks.
Earlier, the media reported that the naval forces of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have intensified mining operations in the Strait of Hormuz, which is being closely monitored by US forces.
In response, Donald Trump ordered the Navy to fire on vessels involved in mining the strait as part of a strategy to curb Iran's oil exports.
The US president has also not ruled out the possibility of limited military strikes against Iran in addition to the naval blockade.
