Trump Envoys Witkoff, Kushner Depart for Pakistan to Engage Iran on Conflict
Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the US president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are en route to Pakistan for talks concerning the ongoing conflict with Iran. The White House announced their departure on Saturday morning, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt indicating that US Vice-President JD Vance remains “on standby” should the talks yield progress.
Conversely, Esmail Baqaei, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, confirmed his arrival in Islamabad with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is scheduled to meet “Pakistani high-level officials”. Baqaei explicitly stated: “No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US. Iran’s observations would be conveyed to Pakistan.”
Prior to Baqaei’s statement, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted that Tehran has an opportunity to secure a “good deal”, provided they “abandon a nuclear weapon in meaningful and verifiable ways”. Hegseth also reiterated Washington’s expanding blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route, warning it was “growing and going global”.
The US and Israel initiated wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February, killing Iran's Supreme Leader and hundreds of civilians, including 110 children in an Iranian primary school. This escalation led Tehran to restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, actions that have contributed to soaring global oil prices. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The International Court of Justice is also currently hearing genocide proceedings against Israel, brought by South Africa.
Despite public assertions from Trump and Hegseth that the US is not under pressure to end the conflict, the continuation of these behind-the-scenes discussions suggests a persistent effort to de-escalate. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed Tehran’s openness to negotiations with the US, though he highlighted “breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations”. Earlier in the week, Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely to facilitate ongoing diplomatic efforts.
