Key Points:
- JD Vance on standby, not attending initially.
- Iran’s Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf also not participating.
- Discussions would focus on uranium limits, monitoring, and sanctions relief.
- Pakistan emerges as neutral venue for sensitive diplomacy.
ISLAMABAD: US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to travel to Pakistan on Saturday for a fresh round of talks with Iran aimed at ending the conflict, the White House said.
“Yes, I can confirm Special Envoy Whitkoff and Jared Kushner will be off to Pakistan again tomorrow morning to engage in talks, direct talks, intermediated by the Pakistanis, who have been incredible friends and mediators throughout this entire process, with representatives from the Iranian delegation,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Friday.
BREAKING: Karoline Leavitt confirms Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will head back to Pakistan tomorrow for peace talks with Iran.@AmericaRpts @johnrobertsFox pic.twitter.com/npLePI513c
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 24, 2026
“The Iranians reached out, as the president called on them to do, and asked for this in-person conversation,” she said.
“We’re hopeful that it will be a productive conversation and hopefully move the ball forward towards a deal.”
“President Trump has made his red lines throughout this entire process very clear. He was flexible in extending the ceasefire,” she said.
“We’ve certainly seen some progress from the Iranian side in the last couple of days. “The president has made the decision to send Steve and Jared to hear the Iranians out.”
NEW: Karoline Leavitt says the White House has witnessed “progress” from Iran on peace talks:
“We’ve certainly seen some progress from the Iranian side in the last couple of days.
“The president has made the decision to send Steve and Jared to hear the Iranians out.” pic.twitter.com/Y3Kx3Vp5Q9
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 24, 2026
Earlier, CNN, citing two administration officials, reported that President Donald Trump is dispatching his special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner to Pakistan to participate in high-level talks with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi this weekend.
The meeting, expected to take place in Islamabad, comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts to revive stalled negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme and reduce escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Pakistan’s role as host underscores its growing importance as a neutral venue for sensitive regional diplomacy.
Scoop: Trump is sending his special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan to participate in talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, two administration officials tell CNN.
VP JD Vance is not currently planning to attend given Iran’s Speaker of the…
— Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) April 24, 2026
US Vice President JD Vance is not currently planning to attend the talks, officials said, noting that Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf — considered by the White House to be leading Tehran’s delegation — is also not expected to participate.
However, Vance remains on standby and could travel to Islamabad if negotiations show meaningful progress, officials added. Members of his staff are already expected to be present in Pakistan and will take part in the discussions.
Kushner and Witkoff have been engaged in backchannel diplomacy with Iranian officials for several months, working towards a potential agreement concerning Tehran’s nuclear material.
These discussions are believed to focus on limiting uranium enrichment levels, enhancing international monitoring mechanisms, and exploring phased sanctions relief — issues that were central to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which the US withdrew from during Trump’s first term.
Analysts say any breakthrough in the Pakistan-hosted talks could mark a significant shift in US-Iran relations, which have remained strained for years due to sanctions, regional conflicts, and mutual distrust. However, expectations remain cautious given past failures and deep political divisions on both sides.
Iranian Foreign Minister to Arrive in Islamabad Tonight
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad tonight along with a small delegation, according to Pakistan government sources.
Following key discussions with Pakistan’s mediation team, a second round of peace talks between the United States and Iran is likely to be held in Islamabad, sources said.
Meanwhile, the US logistical and security team is already present in Islamabad to facilitate the negotiation process, sources added.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a post on X, said he is embarking on a timely diplomatic tour of Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow to strengthen bilateral relations and advance key regional engagements.
“Purpose of my visits is to closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments. Our neighbors are our priority,” he said.
Embarking on timely tour of Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow.
Purpose of my visits is to closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments.
Our neighbors are our priority.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) April 24, 2026
The first round of direct US-Iran talks took place in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, following a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire on April 8.
The talks helped establish rare direct channels between Washington and Tehran, laying the groundwork for continued engagement despite ongoing tensions.
