In brief
Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, special envoys for Donald Trump, are scheduled to travel to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran. The discussions come as tensions remain high over Iran's nuclear program and a continued US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's foreign ministry has indicated that while they seek to clarify their position, no direct meeting with US representatives has been planned.
Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the US president's son-in-law Jared Kushner are heading to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran on Saturday morning, the White House has announced.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, The Iranians want to talk, adding that US Vice-President JD Vance is “on standby” to travel if the negotiations are successful.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei confirmed that he and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad early Saturday, where Araghchi is scheduled to meet with senior Pakistani officials. However, Baqaei noted that no meetings between Iran and the US are currently planned, as Iran’s observations will be communicated to Pakistan instead.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth conveyed that Tehran has an opportunity to negotiate a good deal by abandoning their nuclear weapons program. He warned that the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping route, is escalating globally.
Despite heightened tensions after attacks began on Iran on February 28, the US administration insists it is not under pressure to dissolve its conflict with Iran. However, the continuation of talks reflects both countries' interest in reaching a resolution. As negotiations commence, it remains to be seen how much progress can be made in Pakistan.
