April 24, 2026, 9:25 p.mApril 24, 2026, 9:25 p.m
In the struggle to end the Iran war, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are traveling to Pakistan for negotiations with representatives of Tehran, according to US information. Both will fly out on Saturday morning (Washington time), as US government spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News. The Iranians had asked to speak to them in person, she told reporters a little later.
According to CNN and the news portal Axios, the two US representatives are scheduled to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Araghchi does not want to negotiate with US envoys
According to the Iranian news agency Tasnim, this had already arrived in Islamabad. According to the agency close to the Revolutionary Guards, there will be no negotiations in Islamabad.
Araghchi himself stated on X that he wanted to coordinate with his Pakistani partners. Pakistani security circles said that Araghchi wanted to discuss a counter-proposal with the mediators in the negotiations with the USA. According to Tasnim, the foreign minister wants to present Iran’s positions for an end to the war.
Leavitt: Vance will initially stay in the USA and could travel later
According to CNN, US Vice President JD Vance is not traveling to Pakistan because Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf is not taking part in the talks. Ghalibaf is seen in the White House as the head of the Iranian delegation and therefore as Vance’s counterpart, it was said.
As far as she knows, Vance is prepared to travel to Pakistan if the United States determines that it is a good use of his time, Leavitt said. Just like Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he would wait for updates from the US delegation in the US.
US President Donald Trump unilaterally extended the ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday without a clear end. Shortly before, Iran had refused to take part in further negotiations in Pakistan. Pakistan is mediating in the conflict. Negotiators from the conflicting parties met in Islamabad for a first round of talks. This ended without result. (sda/dpa)