President Donald Trump has abruptly cancelled a planned mission to Pakistan that would have seen U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meet with Iranian officials. The trip, intended to explore potential pathways toward ending the ongoing conflict, was called off Saturday morning after the President reportedly determined that the current diplomatic conditions were not conducive to productive negotiations.

Speaking in a phone call with Fox News reporter Aishah Hasnie, President Trump explained his decision to halt the mission, emphasizing that he was unwilling to allow his representatives to travel extensively for unproductive discussions.

“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,” Trump stated.

The cancellation coincides with the departure of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi from Islamabad. Araghchi had been in the Pakistani capital meeting with senior government officials, though his delegation had maintained that no direct meetings with the United States were scheduled for this visit. The uncertainty surrounding a potential U.S.-Iran sit-down appeared to influence the White House’s decision to pivot.

This development follows a period of heightened diplomatic activity in Islamabad, where Pakistan has been acting as a mediator in hopes of de-escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. Despite earlier hopes from both the White House and regional stakeholders that a second round of direct negotiations could take place this weekend, the diplomatic momentum stalled amidst disagreements over the terms of engagement and the ongoing maritime situation in the region.

The White House has signaled that the United States remains open to diplomacy but is in no hurry to reach a deal. By calling off the envoys’ travel, the President appears to be reasserting a “wait-and-see” approach, signaling to Tehran that Washington is prepared to maintain its current stance until there is a clear indication that Iran is ready to make a substantial offer.