The White House has announced that senior US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Pakistan for talks related to the ongoing tensions involving Iran.
Speaking on Friday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the visit aims to engage directly with Iranian representatives, who have expressed interest in in-person discussions. She noted that the United States is willing to “hear the Iranians out,” reflecting what she described as President Donald Trump’s openness to diplomacy.
Leavitt added that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are on standby and could join the talks in Islamabad if necessary.
The development comes as Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has also indicated plans to visit Islamabad, though he has not publicly confirmed participation in talks with US officials.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington believes Tehran still has an opportunity to reach a “good, wise deal.” He emphasized that the United States is not under pressure to secure an agreement, stating that “the ball is in Iran’s court.” He also noted that a US naval blockade targeting Iranian ports is expanding in scope.
Regional tensions remain high, with the Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah accusing each other of violating a ceasefire. The truce, recently extended by President Trump for three weeks, continues to face challenges, particularly over Hezbollah’s weapons arsenal, which remains a major obstacle to a lasting agreement between Lebanon and Israel.
The upcoming talks in Pakistan are being closely watched as a potential step toward easing tensions, though US officials have cautioned that outcomes remain uncertain.