US Sends Envoys Kushner and Witkoff to Pakistan for Iran Peace Talks

Apr 25, 2026

Donald Trump is sending special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan on Saturday for peace talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, though Iran denies any meeting is planned. The diplomatic push follows an indefinite ceasefire extension announced earlier this week, with Vice President JD Vance on standby if talks prove successful. The conflict has escalated since US and Israeli attacks on Iran began February 28, leading to Iranian restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and a US blockade, causing global oil prices to skyrocket. Iran insists ceasefire violations and blockades prevent genuine negotiations, while the US demands Iran abandon nuclear weapons and has imposed sanctions on Chinese entities supporting Iran's oil trade.

US-Iran diplomatic talks in Pakistan

▪Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are heading to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran on Saturday morning
▪Donald Trump decided to send Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad to hear the Iranians out
▪Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad early on Saturday

Strait of Hormuz blockade and economic impact

▪The US and Israel began attacking Iran on 28 February
▪The US treasury imposed sanctions on a major Chinese refinery and 40 other targets including vessels and their owners

Ceasefire violations and obstacles to negotiations

▪Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 that it was not possible for the Strait of Hormuz to be opened due to blatant violations of the ceasefire
▪Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension to the ceasefire with Iran earlier this week
▪Donald Trump announced a three-week extension to the Israel-Lebanon truce on Thursday, April 23, 2026
▪Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations with the US