Trump: 'We Have All the Cards' as He Cancels Witkoff and Kushner's Iran Trip
What happened
President Trump has confirmed he personally cancelled the planned visit to Pakistan by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who had been positioned to open direct U.S.-Iran talks. In remarks to reporters, Trump said, 'We have all the cards,' arguing Iran needed the deal more than the U.S. did.
What it tells us
- Negotiating posture, not collapse — at least officially. The White House framing is that the cancellation is leverage. Tehran's response (its FM heading to Russia) suggests Iran also reads it that way and is signalling it can wait.
- Domestic audience. The 'all the cards' line is aimed at U.S. supporters who want a tough Iran posture; it boxes the administration into a hardline path even if back-channels reopen.
- Allies left guessing. Pakistan, which had locked down Islamabad, learnt of the cancellation alongside the press.
What to watch
- Whether Witkoff and Kushner are redeployed to a different venue (Doha and Muscat are perennial backstops).
- Israeli readouts: any indication Jerusalem requested or welcomed the cancellation.
- Oil markets, which had priced in a probable de-escalation after the talks were announced.
Sources
- NYT
- BBC — Trump cancels US envoys' trip to Pakistan
- Al Jazeera — Islamabad talks stall
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