President Trump [Reuters=Yonhap News]

The U.S. delegation for negotiations with Iran canceled its scheduled visit to Pakistan, the intermediary country, on the 25th (local time).

Following the departure of the Iranian delegation, which had arrived in Pakistan the previous day, the cancellation of the U.S. delegation's visit means that the second cease-fire negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, expected to take place in Pakistan this weekend, have effectively fallen through.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social on the same day, "Just canceled the trip for our delegation to go to Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians."

He added, "Too much time being wasted on travel and so much to do!" and stated, "Besides, internally, their 'leadership' is in total disarray and chaos. No one knows who is in charge, including themselves."

He further wrote, "We have all the cards, they have none. If they want to talk, they can call!!!"

This is interpreted as an attempt to emphasize the U.S.'s advantageous position in negotiations by highlighting that the U.S. has struck key Iranian military facilities through military operations and is applying economic pressure through a naval blockade against Iran, aiming to pressure Iran.

However, the possibility of dialogue through phone calls or other means remains open, leaving room for negotiation.

Prior to this, President Trump told Fox News that the delegation's trip to Pakistan had been canceled, stating, "There won't be any 18-hour flights for nothing."

In an interview with online media Axios, President Trump responded "No" when asked if the collapse of these negotiations meant a resumption of war with Iran, adding, "We haven't thought about that yet."

U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Steve Witkoff (left) and Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi [AP=Yonhap News]

The White House announced the previous day that Iran had requested direct negotiations, and that the U.S. delegation, including Special Envoy Witkoff and Kushner, was scheduled to depart for Pakistan that morning.

The White House had stated that the U.S. delegation would meet with the Iranian delegation led by Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, but Iran had maintained its stance of not agreeing to direct talks with the United States.

Araghchi, who arrived in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, the previous day, met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief of Staff Asim Munir to convey Iran's position and demands regarding a cease-fire, and then departed Pakistan that day.

The U.S. and Iran, currently in a state of truce, engaged in first cease-fire negotiations in Islamabad on November 11-12, but these broke down. A second round of talks, initially scheduled for November 21, also failed to materialize.

With the breakdown of this weekend's negotiations as well, it is suggested that both sides may continue indirect negotiations through the intermediary country, Pakistan, for the time being.