Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the U.S. president's son-in-law Jared Kushner are heading to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran on Saturday morning, the White House announced.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that The Iranians want to talk, and mentioned that U.S. Vice-President JD Vance was "on standby" to travel if the negotiations yield fruitful outcomes.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei confirmed that he and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had arrived in Islamabad, where Araghchi is set to engage with high-level Pakistani officials. Baqaei clarified that no direct meeting between Iran and the U.S. is planned, and Iran's observations would be communicated through Pakistan.
According to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Tehran has an opportunity to negotiate a good deal if it abandons its nuclear weapon ambitions in a verifiable manner. In a briefing, Hegseth also indicated that the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil transportation route, is escalating globally.
Recent developments have seen an increase in oil prices as military actions by the U.S. and Israel against Iran continue, and Tehran's restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz exacerbate economic concerns.
In light of these tensions, Trump has expressed willingness to hear the Iranians out, with diplomatic channels remaining open despite the ongoing military standoff. The possibility of breakthroughs in negotiations remains uncertain, as U.S.-Iran relations continue to be fraught with challenges.
