US Envoys Witkoff and Kushner Depart for Direct Nuclear Talks with Iran

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the pair will engage in Pakistani-mediated negotiations as Vice President JD Vance remains on standby for a potential flight to Islamabad. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied US Vice President JD Vance (R) speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran, as US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner (L) and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff (C) watch, in Islamabad on April 12, 2026. Iran and the United States failed to reach an agreement to end the war in the Middle East, US Vice President JD Vance said April 12 after marathon talks in Islamabad, adding that he was leaving negotiations after giving Tehran the "final and best offer". (Photo by Jacquelyn MARTIN / POOL / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to arrive in Pakistan on Saturday, April 25, to engage in direct talks with Iranian representatives, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed, CNN reported. The negotiations, mediated by Pakistani officials, follow an in-person request from the Iranian delegation. “The Iranians reached out, as the president called on them to do, and requested the in-person conversation,” Leavitt told Fox News. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . While Trump , Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the national security team monitor updates from Washington, Vice President JD Vance and other senior officials remain on standby to travel to Islamabad if the talks show significant progress. Despite the White House’s confirmation, Tehran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency denied that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is planning to negotiate with the Americans. The agency reported that Araghchi’s visit is intended only to discuss “considerations about ending the war” with Pakistani mediators, asserting that direct talks with the US are not currently on the agenda. This diplomatic push comes amid a period of intense military and economic pressure. President Donald Trump recently warned that “the clock is ticking” for the Islamic Republic, highlighting the effectiveness of a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. While Trump has signaled he is in “no rush” for a deal , the deployment of a third US aircraft carrier to the Middle East and reports of recent explosions over Tehran have underscored the fragility of the current two-week ceasefire. Other Topics of Interest Trump Announces 3-Week Extension of Israel-Lebanon Truce The extension builds on a 10‑day ceasefire agreed earlier this week as Washington presses for de‑escalation along the Israel-Lebanon border. The Islamabad session represents a critical effort to stabilize the region following Trump’s recent success in extending a separate truce between Israel and Lebanon for an additional three weeks . As the US delegation begins its mission, international observers are closely watching whether this “hard-nosed diplomacy” can bridge the gap between Washington’s demands and Tehran’s insistence on its “nuclear rights.” Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.