On April 25, 2026, the second attempt at U.S.-Iran peace talks collapsed — not because negotiations broke down, but because they never happened. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi flew to Islamabad, spent roughly 20 hours meeting with Pakistani officials, declared through his ministry spokesperson that there would be no direct talks with the United States, and left the country before the American delegation could even depart Washington. Trump then cancelled the trip entirely, telling reporters at Palm Beach International Airport: “We have all the cards. They can call us anytime they want.”
That is the state of American diplomacy 57 days into an unauthorized war. Nobody is talking. Nobody is negotiating. The ceasefire is a verbal handshake with no written agreement, no verification mechanism, and periodic flare-ups that have already killed more people since it was announced. And the president of the United States is standing on a tarmac in Florida, bragging about cards he doesn’t hold.
What Happened
The White House signaled on Friday evening that special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would travel to Pakistan for a second round of indirect talks with Iran, with Islamabad acting as intermediary. Vice President JD Vance was on standby to join if discussions showed progress. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration had seen “some progress from the Iranian side in the last couple of days.”
That optimism lasted about 12 hours.
Araghchi arrived in Islamabad Friday night and met with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. But Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed there would be no direct negotiations with the U.S. delegation. Araghchi delivered Tehran’s conditions to the Pakistani mediators and left — reportedly heading to Muscat to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, then to Moscow to coordinate defense and strategic ties.
Friday night: Araghchi arrives in Islamabad. Iran says no direct talks.
Saturday morning: Araghchi meets Sharif, Munir, Naqvi. Delivers Tehran’s conditions.
Saturday afternoon: Araghchi leaves Pakistan. U.S. delegation hasn’t departed.
Saturday afternoon: Trump cancels trip from Palm Beach airport. “We have all the cards.”
Within 10 minutes: Trump claims Iran sent “a new paper that was much better.”
Saturday evening: Pakistan mediators “reeling.” Ceasefire status unclear.
“A Paper That Should Have Been Better”
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, Trump offered his version of events: “They gave us a paper that should have been better. Interestingly, immediately when I cancelled it, within 10 minutes, we got a new paper that was much better.” When asked what it contained, Trump said: “We talked about they will not have a nuclear weapon. Very simple. That whole deal is not complicated.”
The White House did not clarify whether Trump meant Iran had agreed not to pursue nuclear weapons, or whether this was Trump doing what Trump does — describing a vague diplomatic exchange as a done deal because he likes the sound of it.
“There’s no reason to wait two days, have people traveling for 16, 17 hours. We’re not doing it that way. When they want, they can call me. We have all the cards. We won everything.”
— President Trump, April 25, 2026
“We won everything.” The Strait of Hormuz is still partially blocked by both sides. Oil is near $100 a barrel. The U.S. has burned through half its missile stockpile. The first round of talks in April produced nothing after 21 hours. The ceasefire exists only because both sides are too exhausted to resume full-scale operations. And the president just told the country he won everything.
The Second Failure
This was supposed to be the second round of in-person negotiations. The first round on April 11–12 — the first direct U.S.-Iran engagement since 1979 — ended after a 21-hour marathon with no deal. JD Vance walked out. Trump imposed a naval blockade. The main sticking points then were the same as now: Iran’s nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz, and sanctions relief.
The ceasefire was extended indefinitely on April 22 after Trump threatened to resume bombing if Iran didn’t submit a proposal. Iran’s position has been consistent: contradictory U.S. signals, ceasefire violations by the American side, and an unwillingness to engage unless the U.S. lifts its naval blockade first. The U.S. position has been: agree to give up nuclear weapons and open the Strait, and we’ll talk about the rest.
Neither side moved. And now the mechanism for movement — in-person talks through a Pakistani intermediary — has collapsed for the second time. Pakistan’s mediators, who spent weeks assembling the logistics for this round, were left without either party at the table. CBS News reported they are “reeling.”
Five Days to the War Powers Deadline
The War Powers Act of 1973 requires the president to terminate military operations after 60 days unless Congress has voted to declare war or authorized the use of force. Trump formally notified Congress of the Iran strikes on March 2, which means the 60-day clock runs out on May 1. The law allows a single 30-day extension only if the president certifies that additional time is needed for safe withdrawal.
Congress has not authorized this war. The Senate has voted down War Powers resolutions four times. The House rejected one by a single vote. No AUMF has been introduced, debated, or passed. The administration has operated under Article II self-defense authority and a creative reading of the 2001 AUMF. On May 1, that legal fig leaf either gets replaced by congressional authorization or the president is operating a war in open defiance of federal law.
Trump has shown zero indication he intends to request authorization. Congress has shown zero indication it will force the issue. The ceasefire — such as it is — may be the only thing preventing a direct constitutional confrontation between a president waging an unauthorized war and a Congress pretending it doesn’t have the power to stop it.
Iran’s Play
Araghchi’s departure wasn’t a tantrum. It was strategy. After leaving Pakistan, he headed to Muscat to discuss the Strait of Hormuz with Omani officials, then to Moscow for defense consultations. Iran is building parallel diplomatic tracks that don’t run through Washington. The message: we don’t need you to broker our own security arrangements. You need us more than we need you.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry questioned whether the U.S. is “serious about diplomacy” after Trump’s cancellation. Given that the last round ended with a blockade and this round ended before it started with a tarmac press conference, the question is fair.
No Cards
Here is what Trump holds: a military that has depleted half its precision-strike stockpile, a NATO alliance being threatened into compliance, a domestic economy buckling under $100 oil, a war that has no congressional authorization, and a ceasefire that exists only on the mutual understanding that neither side has the appetite to resume full-scale killing right now. Israel just used the diplomatic vacuum to resume bombing Lebanon. China is watching the U.S. ammunition drawdown and doing math about Taiwan.
Those are not cards. Those are liabilities. Every single one of them gets worse the longer this drags on without a deal. Iran knows it. Pakistan knows it. The Pentagon knows it. The only person who doesn’t seem to know it is the one standing on the tarmac telling everyone he won everything.
Fifty-seven days in. No deal. No talks. No authorization. No plan. “We have all the cards.”
Sources
- Politico: Trump abruptly cancels Kushner-Witkoff Pakistan trip. “We have all the cards. They can call us anytime they want.” Iran presented “a paper that should have been better”; within 10 minutes of cancellation, sent “a new paper that was much better.” White House didn’t clarify meaning. Vance was on standby. Leavitt had signaled “progress” Friday. April 25, 2026.
- Hindustan Times: Araghchi left Islamabad before U.S. delegation arrived. Met Pakistan PM Sharif and Army Chief Munir. Iran FM spokesperson Baghaei confirmed no direct talks. AP cited officials confirming departure without meeting U.S. representatives. April 25, 2026.
- The Week (India): Araghchi departed amid uncertainties; heading to Muscat for Strait of Hormuz discussions, then Moscow for defense and strategic coordination. Also met Interior Minister Naqvi and Deputy FM Gharibabadi. April 25, 2026.
- Iran International: Trump said “no reason to wait two days” for 16-17 hour flights. Cancelled trip because Iran’s position “was not good enough.” Within 10 minutes of cancellation, Iran sent improved paper. “We have all the cards. We won everything.” April 25, 2026.
- Business Standard: Trump said Iran “offered a lot” in new paper but wouldn’t give specifics. Stressed condition: Iran “will not have a nuclear weapon.” Said he cancelled because negotiators weren’t meeting “with the leaders of Iran.” CBS News reported Pakistani mediators “reeling.” April 26, 2026.
- Euronews: Witkoff and Kushner due to head to Pakistan Saturday. Araghchi arrived Friday night. Iran ruled out direct talks. Leavitt: Vance “deeply involved” and on standby. Heavy Islamabad security, road closures in red zone. April 24–25, 2026.
- EOH: Talks Failed. No Deal. Trump Announced a Blockade.
- EOH: Iran War Burned Through Half the Nation’s Missiles.