Trump: No Negotiators to Pakistan for Iran Talks; Iran Can Call Us

In a significant shift in diplomatic strategy, U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that he will no longer dispatch negotiation teams to Pakistan for talks with Iran. Instead, he suggested that Iran can simply call the White House if they wish to engage in dialogue. This move underscores Trump's assertive stance on the nuclear issue, reiterating that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons – a non-negotiable condition for any potential meeting.

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I am no longer going to do this. We have all the cards.

Trump's comments, made during an interview with Fox News and also on his Truth Social platform, signaled a frustration with the time-consuming nature of the travel involved. He asserted that the U.S. holds all the leverage and that Iran can reach out directly. This direct approach, he argued, would be more efficient than lengthy diplomatic journeys.

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If they want to talk, they can call us or they can call me. You know, we have phones. We have very good, very secure lines.

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has returned to Pakistan, reportedly delivering a written 'red line' message to the U.S. This message demands an end to hostile actions, specifically mentioning the maritime blockade. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has previously stated that Iran will not negotiate under duress and that progress is contingent on the U.S. ceasing its adversarial measures. The differing perspectives highlight the deep mistrust and the complex dynamics at play in the U.S.-Iran relations, a situation closely watched here in South Korea, where regional stability is a paramount concern.

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They cannot have nuclear weapons. That’s the only thing. If they want to talk about it, that’s fine, but they cannot have nuclear weapons.