President Donald Trump said on Friday (April 10, 2026) that Iran has “no cards” in upcoming talks with the United States — apart from Tehran’s effective stranglehold on the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping channel.

“The Iranians don’t seem to realise they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways,” Mr. Trump said on his Truth Social network.

U.S. President Donald Trump is tasking the member of his inner circle who has seemed to be the most reluctant defender of the conflict with Iran to now find a resolution to the war that began six weeks ago and stave off the U.S. President’s astonishing threat to wipe out its “whole civilisation.”

Vice-President J.D. Vance, who has long been skeptical of foreign military interventions and outspoken about the prospect of sending troops into open-ended conflicts, sets off on Friday (April 10, 2026) to lead mediated talks with Iran in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.