Full Breakdown
US Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner Travel to Pakistan for Second-Round Iran Peace Talks
4/25/2026, 9:06:21 AM
US-Iran Peace Talks Resumed in Pakistan
President Donald Trump dispatched special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Islamabad on Saturday for a second round of negotiations with Iran. The talks are mediated by Pakistan, which hosted the first round of direct U.S.–Iran contacts in early April. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the delegation will meet Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and that Vice President JD Vance remains on standby to travel if needed.
Background & Context of the Conflict
The war began on 28 February when the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iranian targets. A two-week cease-fire was brokered on 8 April, then unilaterally extended by Trump at the last minute. The United States maintains a naval blockade of Iranian ports and a de-facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of global oil passes. Iran has responded by restricting commercial traffic and seizing vessels in the strait.
Key Figures and Their Roles
- Steve Witkoff – U.S. special envoy for the Middle East.
- Jared Kushner – Senior adviser to President Trump, former senior White House official.
- President Donald Trump – Ultimate decision-maker on cease-fire extensions and military options.
- Vice President JD Vance – Led the first-round talks, now on standby.
- Abbas Araghchi – Iran’s foreign minister, traveling to Pakistan, Oman and Russia.
- Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf – Speaker of Iran’s parliament, head of the earlier Iranian delegation, absent from the current round.
- Pete Hegseth – U.S. Defense Secretary, overseeing the naval blockade.
- Karoline Leavitt – White House press secretary, primary spokesperson.
Timeline of Recent Developments
- 28 Feb – U.S. and Israel begin air campaign against Iran.
- 8 Apr – Pakistan brokers a two-week cease-fire.
- 10 Apr – First round of direct talks in Islamabad, led by Vance and Ghalibaf.
- 12 Apr – Trump extends the cease-fire indefinitely.
- 24 Apr – Witkoff and Kushner depart for Pakistan; Araghchi arrives in Islamabad.
Data & Statistics
- Reported casualties: at least 3,375 deaths in Iran, 2,490 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, and 15 U.S. service members.
- Brent crude traded around $104 per barrel; WTI near $93 per barrel.
- Only five ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours, down from roughly 130 per day pre-war.
- The U.S. has three aircraft carriers in the region (USS George H.W. Bush, USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Gerald R. Ford) with 200 aircraft and 15,000 personnel.
- The Treasury has frozen $344 million in cryptocurrency assets linked to Iran and sanctioned about 40 shipping firms.
Why It Matters
The negotiations could determine whether the blockade of the strait remains, affecting global energy markets and maritime trade routes. A durable settlement would also influence the broader U.S.–Israel–Iran dynamic and the stability of neighboring Lebanon and the Gulf states.
Official Statements & Responses
The White House emphasized “hopeful” expectations for a productive conversation. Defense Secretary Hegseth reiterated that Iran must abandon its nuclear program in “meaningful and verifiable ways” and warned that the blockade will stay “as long as it takes.” Iran’s foreign-ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said no direct U.S.–Iran meeting is scheduled and that Tehran will convey its observations through Pakistan.
Criticism & Opposition
Iranian officials, including parliamentary speaker Ghalibaf, described the U.S. naval blockade as a “hostage-taking” of the global economy. United Arab Emirates diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash called Iran’s conduct “callous” and warned it will erode regional trust for decades. Within the United States, Hegseth criticized European allies for not sharing the burden of the Hormuz operation.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Iran’s foreign-ministry spokesperson asserted that no meeting between Iranian and U.S. delegations will occur in Pakistan, while the White House announced that Witkoff and Kushner will meet Araghchi. Additionally, reports differ on whether Ghalibaf will attend; some sources list him as absent, others provide no confirmation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US. Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan.” — Esmail Baqaei, Iran foreign-ministry spokesman
- “we've certainly seen some progress from the Iranian side in the last couple of days” — Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary
- “all they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon and in meaningful and verifiable ways” — Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary
- “The blockade is tightening by the hour. We are in control. Nothing in, nothing out.” — Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary
- “The president is always willing to give diplomacy a chance.” — Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary
What’s Next
The Pakistani mediation team will relay any Iranian positions to Washington. If the talks yield a written proposal, senior U.S. officials—including the president, vice president and secretary of state—will assess a potential cease-fire extension or broader settlement. The naval blockade and carrier deployments will remain in place pending a diplomatic resolution.
