The White House announced late Thursday that President Trump's Iran envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner will depart for Pakistan on Saturday morning for face-to-face negotiations with an Iranian delegation. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Iran reached out and requested the meeting, and the White House has seen "some progress" from Tehran. Vice President JD Vance will remain in the U.S. but stand ready to travel if needed, his chief of staff and team having already departed.
The talks come two weeks after the first round of negotiations in Islamabad collapsed. Both sides had walked away without a deal, and the U.S. subsequently escalated military posture, including evacuating some American citizens and deploying a three-carrier strike group in the Middle East.
Tehran Sends Mixed Signals
Iran's public posture remains contradictory. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on X that no meeting is planned between Iran and the U.S., and that Iran's views will be conveyed through Pakistan. Yet Iran's state news agency IRNA confirmed Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad Friday evening with a small delegation.
The dual-track messaging mirrors the pattern seen before the first round of talks. Analysts suggest Iran may be balancing domestic hardliner pressure while probing Washington's true intentions. The U.S. has labeled the Iran mission as entering a diplomatic phase, but a military option remains on the table. Markets are watching oil prices for volatility, while the crypto sector shows no immediate correlation.