- President Donald Trump to send envoys to Pakistan, with JD Vance, who led talks with Iran in Islamabad the last time, on ‘standby’
- Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed he’s headed to Islamabad too but did not confirm talks with the US
- Iran and the US remain locked in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, with Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth saying blockade on Iranian ports will remain in place ‘until necessary’, dw.com reports.
- US officials Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to depart for Islamabad on Saturday with the intention of talks with Iran, the White House said. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is headed to Pakistan too.
US President Donald Trump is sending his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan, the White House said on Friday.
The two US officials are set to depart for Islamabad on Saturday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in an interview on Fox News Channel.
The pair are scheduled for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who said he was traveling to Islamabad but didn’t confirm talks with the US.
“We’re hopeful that it will be a productive conversation and hopefully move the ball forward to a deal,” Leavitt said.
She said that Vice President JD Vance would not be traveling but that he remains “deeply involved.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a social media post that he was heading to Islamabad, Pakistan; Muscat, Oman; and Moscow to “closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments.”
Araghchi’s comments didn’t address any possible resumption of talks with the US, though the Iranian foreign minister spoke with senior Pakistani officials on the phone earlier Friday.
Araghchi’s comments didn’t address any possible resumption of talks with the US, though the Iranian foreign minister spoke with senior Pakistani officials on the phone earlier Friday.
Pakistani officials have also been intensifying efforts in recent weeks to get the US and Iran to a second round of ceasefire negotiations.
Vice President JD Vance, who led the first round of negotiations with Iran in Islamabad nearly two weeks ago, will not be headed to Pakistan for now, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
“Everybody will be on standby to fly to Pakistan if necessary,” she said. “The president is dispatching Steve and Jared to see what they have to say.”
“We’ve certainly seen some progress from the Iranian side in the last couple of days,” she added. Leavitt did not offer any details about what US officials were hearing.
