Jared Kushner and US special envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Islamabad, Pakistan on Saturday morning for a fresh round of negotiations with Iran, the White House has confirmed.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that the two senior figures would depart this weekend to continue diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a deal with Tehran, as the extended ceasefire between the United States and Iran remains in place.
The confirmation marks a significant escalation in direct diplomatic engagement, with two of the most prominent figures in the Trump administration’s foreign policy operation now personally involved in the Islamabad talks. Kushner, the President’s son-in-law, has played a central role in high-stakes negotiations throughout Trump’s time in office, most notably in brokering Middle East agreements during the first term.
The Islamabad talks represent the second round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran, following an earlier attempt at direct dialogue that collapsed earlier in the week. Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi subsequently travelled to Pakistan after discussions with Pakistani mediators helped revive the prospect of resumed talks.
The US naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in force, with the White House continuing to apply significant economic pressure on Tehran as a backdrop to the diplomatic process.
