Trump's Envoys Set for Peace Talks with Iran in Pakistan

Fri Apr 24 2026 23:47:26 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are headed to Islamabad for critical talks with Iranian officials as part of the ongoing diplomatic efforts amid escalating tensions in the region.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, will travel to Pakistan this Saturday for peace discussions with Iran. White House statements highlight a potential willingness from Iran to engage in talks, coinciding with U.S. efforts for negotiation despite ongoing military tensions. Meanwhile, Iranian officials have clarified that no direct meetings with U.S. representatives are planned, underscoring the complexities of the current geopolitical landscape.

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 said.

The Iranians want to talk, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, adding that US Vice-President JD Vance was on standby to travel if the talks proved successful.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said he and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had arrived in Islamabad early on Saturday, and Araghchi would be meeting Pakistani high-level officials.

He added that: No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US. Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan.

Ahead of Baqaei's comments, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tehran had a chance to make a good deal, stressing that all they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon and in meaningful and verifiable ways.

At Friday's news briefing, Hegseth also warned that Washington's continuing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz - a major oil shipping route - was growing and going global.

The US and Israel began attacking Iran on 28 February, and Tehran subsequently restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The moves by the warring sides have sent oil prices skyrocketing around the globe.

Leavitt stated Trump had decided to send Witkoff and Kushner to Islamabad to hear the Iranians out, emphasizing the president's openness to diplomacy.

While there remains no expectation for a direct negotiation between the US and Iran, the ongoing diplomatic efforts highlight both parties' interest in potentially de-escalating tensions.

The upcoming talks may pave the way for further discussions, but the contrasting public and private stances indicate a challenging path ahead.