U.S. President Donald Trump said he might go to Islamabad to sign off on a potential peace deal between the United States and Iran, despite the recent failure to secure a deal. Speaking to journalists at the White House, Trump announced he would be prepared to visit Pakistan if it agreed to a deal. “I would go to Pakistan, sure.
If the deal is signed in Islamabad, I might go,” he said, adding that Pakistani leaders were enthusiastic about hosting him. His comments reflect Pakistan’s increasing role as a bridge in one of the world’s most-watched geopolitical conflicts. Trump also praised Pakistan’s leadership in the continuing negotiations.
Referring to the figures crucial to its formation, he said, “The field marshal has been great. The Prime Minister has been really great in Pakistan, so I might go.” The country also praised mediation efforts and said the Pakistanis “have been so great” in aiding in brokering dialogue between the two sides.
The remarks are at a crucial time in a series of high-stakes negotiations in Islamabad that attempted to resolve the protracted U.S.-Iran conflict that recently broke down. But the fragile ceasefire is in progress in talks, though the disintegration has not yet dashed any hope that they will be settled diplomatically.
Pakistan’s effort as an unbiased mediator has positioned it as central to efforts to advance talks. Trump gave a news update about the prospects of talks and announced he hoped a deal would soon come between Iran and the world. An essential condition for any agreement, he said, should be to keep Iran from gaining nuclear weapons. “Iran wants a deal, and we’re dealing very nicely with them. We’ve got to have no nuclear weapon … that’s a big factor,” he said.
Trump proposed that Tehran’s line has softened and that Tehran’s behaviour has changed in recent weeks. “They’re ready to do today what they weren’t willing to do two months ago,” he commented, hinting at positive strides in the background. “It looks extremely good that we are going to make a deal with Iran, and it will be very beneficial, and I assure you, the possibility of getting to an agreement.”
Trump again explained Iran's words, “We may return the nuclear dust that is way underground,” commonly seen as enriched uranium. Some parts were left open for discussion, and Trump insisted that there is much common ground between Iran and the world. He maintained that “we have lots of agreement with Iran.” On the next path forward, Trump said the next round of in-person negotiations would start as soon as the weekend.
Any final agreement would ensure that no nuclear weapons in Iran would be developed, under any circumstances, a target long meant by the United States, he said. When international scrutiny has focused on Islamabad, the prospect of a high-profile U.S. presidential visit forces the table for questions. Even so, Trump’s comments imply that diplomatic channels are open, and while any breakthrough appears doubtful, they’re closer than far to achieving it.
