Trump again scraps peace talks with Iran

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(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump called off a planned diplomatic mission to Pakistan on Saturday, refusing to send his team on what he described as an unproductive 18-hour flight, as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed Islamabad without meeting with American representatives.

Trump confirmed the cancellation in a social media post.

"I just cancelled the trip of my representatives going to Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians," he wrote. "Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their 'leadership.' Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards, they have none!"

Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner had been expected to lead the American delegation in Pakistan. Vice President JD Vance was on standby.

Araghchi had previously said that no meetings with the U.S. had been planned in Islamabad. He departed the city Saturday after meeting with Pakistani officials, including Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, according to Iranian state news agency IRNA.

The cancelled trip marks the second time this week that U.S.-Iran talks have fallen through. Earlier in the week, Trump postponed the original Islamabad meeting, citing a "seriously fractured" Iranian government and requesting that Tehran submit a unified proposal before negotiations proceed.

With a two-week ceasefire set to expire on Tuesday, Trump extended it without setting a new timeline, saying he would not be rushed and that time is not on Iran's side.

The U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports remains in place throughout the ceasefire. Trump has said Iran is losing about $500 million per day in oil sales as a result. Iran's military has warned that if the blockade continues, the U.S. will "face the response of Iran's powerful armed forces."

Trump has said his administration holds the stronger hand in negotiations and is under no pressure to move first.

"If they want to talk, all they have to do is call," the president said.

Since the start of the conflict at the end of February, U.S. gas prices have climbed about $1 per gallon, with the national average recently hitting $4 per gallon. The ongoing conflict has rattled global markets, sending oil prices to their highest levels in years. If hostilities continue, experts warn that economic strain will deepen, further burdening U.S. taxpayers.

With U.S. military operations costing more than $1 billion per day, analysts say a prolonged war could drive a significant increase in defense spending and further impact the federal budget. The Department of War has suggested it could request an additional $200 billion from Congress for the Iran operations.

The U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28 after nuclear talks with the Islamic Republic failed to produce a deal. Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth have laid out four military objectives: destroying Iran's missile capabilities, neutralizing its navy, preventing the development of nuclear weapons, and ensuring the regime can't direct terrorism beyond its borders. Trump and Hegseth have said most of those objectives have been accomplished.

Since strikes began, Iran's forensics chief said nearly 3,400 people have been killed inside the country. Almost 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon, 32 in Gulf states, and 23 in Israel.

Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed, with two additional deaths from noncombat causes.