WASHINGTON (The Thursday Times) — President Donald Trump said it was “too soon” to prepare for a possible trip to Islamabad, tempering expectations of an imminent US-Iran peace signing even as negotiators work through competing drafts of a framework that could end more than two months of war.
Speaking to New York Post reporter Caitlin Doornbos on Wednesday, Trump dismissed the idea that she should begin “packing my bags for Islamabad” after reports that Washington and Tehran were close to a deal.
“It’s too far. No, it’s too much,” Trump said, according to Doornbos, who reported that the president had previously indicated he would consider travelling to Pakistan for a formal signing if a deal was reached.
The remarks injected caution into a diplomatic track that has gathered pace in recent days, with Reuters reporting that the United States and Iran are nearing a one-page memorandum intended to end the war and open a wider negotiation process over Iran’s nuclear programme. A Pakistani source involved in the mediation confirmed that the two sides were close to finalising such a document, though the details remain under debate.
According to the New York Post, several versions of a possible one-page document are circulating among negotiators, suggesting that the framework has moved beyond broad principles but has not yet reached a final text. Doornbos described the mood as one of cautious optimism, saying negotiators could be “optimistic” but should “stay realistic.”
The proposed memorandum, as reported by Reuters, would seek to halt hostilities, ease restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz, and begin a more detailed negotiation period over sanctions, frozen Iranian assets and nuclear limits. The draft reportedly includes a temporary window for further talks, while allowing Washington to resume military action if the process collapses.
Pakistan’s role has become increasingly central to the talks. Trump has previously said he would be open to travelling to Pakistan for a signing ceremony out of respect for the efforts of Pakistan’s defence chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in helping bring Washington and Tehran toward the negotiating table.
But the president’s latest comments suggest that even as the diplomatic track advances, the White House is not yet ready to present the process as a settled breakthrough.
The talks have unfolded against the backdrop of a wider regional crisis, including the closure and reopening debate around the Strait of Hormuz. Trump recently paused a US effort to guide stranded vessels out of the waterway while Washington attempted to finalise an Iran deal, according to the Associated Press.
The pause was interpreted by regional officials as a signal that the administration was giving diplomacy room to work. Markets also responded to signs of progress, with oil prices easing on hopes that a deal could reduce pressure on global energy flows.
Still, the talks remain fragile. Iranian officials have insisted that any proposal must be “fair”, while US officials have continued to frame the negotiations as a choice between a verifiable settlement and renewed military pressure.
Trump, for his part, has tried to maintain both tracks. He has publicly spoken of “great progress” in the talks, while also warning that bombing could resume at a higher intensity if Iran does not accept terms acceptable to Washington.
The president abruptly ended his call with The Post on Wednesday morning, saying he had an appointment with “the generals”.
This uncertainty has also defined the atmosphere in Islamabad itself. In an interview with The Thursday Times, Caitlin Doornbos described the city as intensely alert to world events, but also unexpectedly warm and human, saying ordinary Pakistanis had shown deep curiosity about the war and the efforts to end it. Even then, she was careful not to overstate what might come next.
