President Donald Trump just gave Iran the ultimate “call me maybe” moment. During an appearance on Fox News’s The Sunday Briefing, the President made it clear that if Tehran actually wants to end the war, they know where to find him—specifically, at the end of a secure phone line.
“If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us,” Trump said. “You know, there is a telephone. We have nice, secure lines.”
The offer of a chat comes right as the diplomatic dance in Pakistan turned into a solo performance. Trump pulled the plug on a trip to Islamabad for his heavy hitters, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, on Saturday.
The diplomatic vacuum opened up after Araghchi concluded meetings with Pakistani officials and headed to Oman, specifically avoiding a sit-down with U.S. envoys.
Trump responded by canceling the American delegation’s flight to Islamabad, citing a lack of progress and stating on social media that the U.S. “holds all the cards.”
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While Araghchi called his time in Islamabad “fruitful,” the lack of any actual U.S. negotiators in the room suggests a pretty low bar for success.
Despite the snub, Araghchi isn’t giving up on the frequent flyer miles; Iran’s state-run news agency, IRNA, says he’s expected back in Pakistan Sunday night after his Oman detour. His team already flew back to Tehran, but they’re reportedly packing their bags to return to Islamabad as well.
So, while the Iranian delegation keeps circling Pakistan, the U.S. position is essentially a shrug and a reminder that long-distance charges don’t apply to “nice, secure lines.”
If Iran wants a deal, they’ll have to stop chasing envoys and start dialing.
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