‘No more Mr. Nice Guy’ – Trump threatens as Witkoff and Kushner head to Pakistan for renewed talks

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and advisor to President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, are headed to Pakistan for renewed talks, Trump announced Sunday. 

In a post on Truth Social, Trump called out Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ firing on ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, calling it “A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement!” 

Trump reaffirmed the existing U.S. blockade of ships to and from Iranian ports, and claimed that the move to reimpose a closure on the strait was benefiting the United States.

“They’re helping us without knowing, and they are the ones that lose with the closed passage, $500 Million Dollars a day!” Trump wrote. “The United States loses nothing. In fact, many Ships are headed, right now, to the U.S., Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska, to load up, compliments of the IRGC, always wanting to be 'the tough guy!’” 

Trump also threatened again that if the Iranian regime did not make a deal, the U.S. would “knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!” 

Reiterating his warning, Trump wrote, “If they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years. IT’S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!” 

Speaking to The New York Post, Trump reaffirmed the arrival of Witkoff and Kushner in Pakistan, saying, “Steve’s going to be going there tomorrow night.” 

According to the president, the talks are set to take place on Tuesday without Vice President JD Vance participating in this round.

When asked if he would visit Pakistan if negotiations were successful, Trump said, “I would say maybe at a little bit later date. We have to see how it works out tomorrow.” 

Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst also said that he spoke to the president, who told him the U.S. is preparing to “hit them harder than any country has ever been hit before” if the regime does not show flexibility. 

“We’re preparing to hit them harder than any country has ever been hit before because you cannot let them have a nuclear weapon," President Trump told me.

The President said the U.S. has "massive amounts" of ammunition.

“It's almost like they don't learn," he added. pic.twitter.com/8MlkzLs1Rq

— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) April 19, 2026

Over the weekend, Iranian fast boats fired on several vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, announcing that it was again closing the strait, due to the U.S. military’s blockade of vessels heading to or from Iranian ports. 

That came shortly after Trump himself expressed optimism about reaching a deal. 

However, the Iranian regime accused the U.S. of imposing “maximalist” demands on it regarding the Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear issue. 

Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said the two sides remain far apart on key issues, such as uranium enrichment and the Strait of Hormuz. 

"There is still a big distance between us,” Ghalibaf said, according to statements from Iranian media. “There are some issues on which we insist ... They also have red lines. But these issues could be just one or two.” 

The ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. is expected to expire on Tuesday night, and Trump has indicated that he will not likely renew it. However, at the same time, recent reports indicate that the U.S. is considering a longer-term economic pressure on the Iranian regime, including seizing Iranian vessels, if a deal is not reached.