U.S. envoys were expected in the Pakistani capital on Saturday to launch a new round of peace negotiations with Iran, though Iranian state media indicated that Tehran's representatives had no immediate plans for face-to-face discussions.
Diplomatic Efforts Underway
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, already in Islamabad, met with Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan's army chief and a key mediator, as well as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. According to a foreign ministry statement, Araghchi thanked Pakistan for its ceasefire efforts but also outlined Iran's principled positions regarding the ceasefire and the complete end of what he called the imposed war against Iran.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would depart for Pakistan on Saturday to engage in talks with representatives from the Iranian delegation. Leavitt stated that Iran had reached out in response to the president's call and requested an in-person conversation, expressing hope that the talks would advance toward a deal.
Vance on Standby
Vice President JD Vance, who led the first round of negotiations in Islamabad two weeks ago, will not join this time but remains on standby to travel to Pakistan if necessary, Leavitt added.
However, it remains unclear whether the Iranian side will meet directly with the U.S. envoys. Iranian state television reported that Araghchi had no plans to meet with Americans and that Islamabad would serve as a bridge to convey Iranian proposals. Pakistan's foreign ministry said Araghchi was in Islamabad to discuss regional peace and stability, without directly mentioning talks with Witkoff and Kushner.
Strait of Hormuz Crisis
Sealing a deal to end the Middle East war remains a thorny proposition, even as urgency mounts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for the world's oil and liquefied natural gas. Iran's military remained defiant, with its central command warning that if the invading U.S. military continues blockading and piracy in the region, they should expect a response from Iran's armed forces.
Since the last round of talks, efforts to bring both sides back to the table have hit an impasse, with Iran refusing to participate as long as a U.S. naval blockade on its ports remains in place. An Iranian spokesman said Araghchi would later visit Oman and Russia to discuss ending the war, which was launched against Iran by Israel and the United States on February 28.
