The White House said Friday that special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner will travel to Islamabad on Saturday to engage in fresh talks with Iranian representatives, in a renewed diplomatic push to de-escalate tensions.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the meetings—facilitated by Pakistani intermediaries—come at Tehran’s request following outreach by Donald Trump.
“I can confirm special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be off to Pakistan again tomorrow morning to engage in direct talks, intermediated by the Pakistanis… with representatives from the Iranian delegation,” Leavitt said in an interview with Fox News.
She described Pakistan as a key mediator in the process and expressed cautious optimism about the upcoming discussions. “We’re hopeful that it will be a productive conversation and hopefully move the ball forward towards a deal,” she added.
Vice President JD Vance will remain in the United States but continue to play an active role, Leavitt said, noting that he and senior officials—including Secretary of State Marco Rubio—will monitor developments closely.
“He’ll be standing by here… along with the President and the entire national security team for updates,” she said, adding that additional officials could travel to Pakistan if needed.
Leavitt reiterated that while military options remain under consideration, the administration is prioritising diplomacy. “President Trump has military options on the table… but right now, diplomacy hopefully continues,” she said.
She also noted “some progress” from the Iranian side in recent days, underscoring the administration’s willingness to pursue negotiations.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to begin a regional tour that includes stops in Pakistan, Oman and Russia, as efforts intensify to revive negotiations.
Pakistan has been working to facilitate a second round of talks following initial direct discussions held in Islamabad on April 11–12. Those talks followed a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan on April 8, later extended by Trump without a fixed deadline.
The renewed diplomatic push comes amid ongoing tensions since the outbreak of conflict on Feb. 28, with both sides seeking a broader agreement to end hostilities.
