Witkoff and Kushner head to Islamabad for US-Iran talks

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

WASHINGTON, US — White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Advisor Jared Kushner are traveling to Islamabad to engage in high-level diplomatic negotiations with Iranian officials.

The upcoming talks in the Pakistani capital represent a strategic effort by the Trump administration to prioritize diplomacy following a direct negotiation request from the Iranian side. According to reports from the Demirören News Agency (DHA), the mission aims to establish a productive dialogue and explore potential avenues for a formal agreement between the two nations.

Strategic diplomatic mission

In a press briefing held on April 25, 2026, at 11.11, Leavitt detailed the composition of the delegation, emphasizing that the administration is committed to "giving diplomacy a chance." The choice of Steve Witkoff, the US President's Special Envoy for the Middle East, and senior advisor Jared Kushner underscores the significance Washington attaches to this new round of talks.

"We want to give diplomacy a chance," Leavitt stated, noting that the Iranian side had explicitly requested a return to the negotiating table. "The administration hopes for a productive process that leads to concrete progress toward an agreement."

Monitoring from Washington

While the primary negotiations will take place on the ground in Pakistan, the overall strategy will be closely managed by the top leadership in the United States. Leavitt informed the press that the negotiation process will be monitored in real-time from Washington by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The White House spokesperson further clarified that Vice President JD Vance, who presided over the initial round of talks in early April, will not be traveling to Islamabad for this specific phase. This decision allows the specialized envoys to handle the technical and preliminary frameworks of the discussion.

Future role of the Vice President

Despite his current absence from the traveling delegation, the Vice President's involvement remains a possibility as the talks evolve. Leavitt emphasized that the current plans are subject to change depending on the results achieved by Witkoff and Kushner.

"Should the need arise for high-level executive presence or if substantial progress is made that requires his direct involvement, Vice President Vance may travel to Pakistan at a later date," Leavitt added. The administration remains focused on ensuring that the dialogue remains substantive and results-oriented to address long-standing regional concerns.

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