Donald Trump again criticized European allies, saying that while they are willing to assist, “they simply don’t know how.”
A few days after US-Iran talks in Pakistan failed, US President Donald Trump stated that negotiations could resume “within the next two days.” Speaking to the New York Post on Tuesday, Trump confirmed that the venue would remain the same—Pakistan.
He remarked, “…it is highly likely that we will go back there,” adding, “Why should we go to a country that has nothing to do with this?”
Trump described Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, as “fantastic” and noted that he is “doing a great job,” which is why the US and Iran will return to Islamabad for negotiations. Previously, Trump had told the Post that the US would not return to Pakistan for any future talks with Iran, but he later called them back to provide an update.
The Republican leader had previously hinted at a European nation serving as the mediator. When asked whether the US was considering Turkey as the next venue for talks, Trump replied, “No, some other central location. Perhaps Europe.”
He once again criticized his European allies, complaining that while they wish to help, “they simply don’t know how to do it.”
He said, “They are doing nothing but holding meetings. They just keep meeting.” “They want to get there, but they don’t know how to do it. They are paper tigers.”
US-Iran talks held over the weekend in Islamabad ended in failure
On Monday, Trump told reporters that “we have been contacted by the other side” and that “they are ready to negotiate a deal.”
US Vice President JD Vance also stated that during the peace talks in Islamabad, Iran had moved closer to the US position regarding ending the war, and that the next step to advance the negotiations must be taken by Tehran.
Vance told Fox News, “I wouldn’t just say that things went wrong. I also feel that things went right. We have made significant progress.”
The US Vice President—who led the delegation, which included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, in talks with the Iranian delegation—said, “They moved toward us; so, I think we would say that we received some positive signals, but they did not move far enough.”
The United States and Iran concluded 21 hours of face-to-face talks in Islamabad on Sunday without reaching a deal, leaving the future of a fragile two-week ceasefire still uncertain. The US delegation, led by Vance, and the Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, discussed how to extend the ceasefire—which is already imperiled by deep-seated differences and Israel’s continued attacks on the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Among the many issues at stake was the Strait of Hormuz—a major transit point for global energy supplies—which Iran has completely blockaded to all traffic except for the US. Iran has pledged to reopen [negotiations], while also vowing to continue its nuclear program and to defy international sanctions imposed on Tehran.
A source within the Pakistani government told Reuters, “Amidst the talks, there was high hope that a breakthrough would be achieved and that both sides would reach an agreement. However, things changed within a short span of time.”