Trump Warns Iran It Has ‘No Cards’ as U.S. Delegation Heads to Pakistan for Talks

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump sharpened his rhetoric toward Iran as U.S. and Iranian officials prepared for high-level negotiations aimed at ending hostilities, arguing that Tehran was entering the talks from a position of weakness while continuing to use the Strait of Hormuz as leverage.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran had “no cards” beyond what he described as a short-term effort to pressure the international community through control of major waterways.

“The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!” Trump wrote.

Trump also claimed that Iran’s military capabilities had been severely degraded. He said the country’s navy, air force, air-defense systems and radar network had been largely destroyed, and characterized its missile and drone infrastructure as having suffered extensive damage.

Those statements were presented by Trump as an assessment of Iran’s battlefield position and should not be understood as an independent military assessment.

The president has increasingly focused his public comments on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints and a major route for international energy shipments. Disruptions in the waterway have raised concerns among major oil-importing nations and added pressure to diplomatic efforts.

Trump said Iran’s remaining leverage included the possibility that commercial vessels could encounter sea mines. He also claimed that all 28 of Iran’s mine-laying boats had been destroyed.

“We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World,” Trump said, naming China, Japan, South Korea, France and Germany.

The U.S. military subsequently confirmed that American Navy destroyers had entered the Strait as part of an operation intended to establish conditions for mine-clearing efforts and improve freedom of navigation.

High-Level Talks in Pakistan

The developments came as a senior U.S. delegation traveled to Islamabad for direct discussions with Iranian representatives.

Vice President JD Vance led the American delegation, joined by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner. The talks represented one of the highest-level direct diplomatic engagements between Washington and Tehran in decades.

Pakistan played a central role in facilitating the negotiations as the two sides sought a path toward ending the conflict and addressing unresolved disputes surrounding Iran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz.

The negotiations carried significant international stakes because continued restrictions on shipping through the waterway have affected energy markets and global commerce.

Fetterman Criticizes Media Coverage of Iran

The diplomatic push also fueled debate in Washington over how the U.S. conflict with Iran was being covered domestically.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., told Fox News host Jesse Watters that he believed portions of the American media were “carrying water for Iran.”

“I can’t speak for my other Democrats, but the American media has, essentially, become — carrying water for Iran,” Fetterman said. He argued that coverage sometimes failed to adequately account for Iran’s record and called for the United States to hold Tehran accountable for its actions.

Fetterman has previously defended U.S. military action against Iran and criticized members of his own party who have opposed or questioned President Trump’s approach.

Questions Surround Minab School Strike

The broader debate over the war has also included scrutiny of a Feb. 28 U.S. strike that hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, southeastern Iran.

Iranian authorities reported a large number of casualties, with children among those killed. A subsequent preliminary U.S. military investigation reportedly pointed to outdated intelligence and a targeting error as factors in the strike.

The incident has become a major point of controversy as Washington faces questions about civilian casualties and the accuracy of intelligence used during military operations.

Meanwhile, the diplomatic and military developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz remain closely intertwined. With negotiations underway and U.S. forces working to facilitate maritime passage, control of the waterway has emerged as one of the central issues in the confrontation between Washington and Tehran.

The immediate outcome of the Pakistan talks could determine whether the fragile pause in fighting develops into a broader agreement—or gives way to renewed military escalation.