Middle East conflict: US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner head to Pakistan for Iran talks

Jared Kushner, left, and Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy for Peace Missions, are bound for Pakistan for talks with Iran counterparts that aim to bring an end to the Middle East conflict. Photo / Getty Images

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are en route to Pakistan for a new round of talks with Iran on ending the war, the White House said.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Witkoff and Kushner’s plans, adding: “The Iranians reached out, as the President called on them to do, and asked for this in-person conversation. We’re hopeful that it will be a productive conversation and hopefully move the ball forward towards a deal.”

The talks would come more than two weeks after Vice President JD Vance held a first round of talks with Iranian representatives in Pakistan.

Vance was ready earlier this week to fly back out but put his trip on hold after Iran did not confirm participation. Leavitt said that Vance remained ready to fly to Pakistan but will not for now.

Witkoff, a business associate of Donald Trump turned globe-trotting negotiator, and Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, had been negotiating with Iran just before Israel and the United States launched attacks on February 28, leading Tehran to accuse them of deceit.

During the first round of talks in Pakistan, Vance said that Iran refused US demands on constraints on its contested nuclear program.

Trump has indefinitely extended a ceasefire, after earlier issuing genocidal threats to destroy all Iranian civilization.

“The president always wants to give diplomacy a chance. It’s always his first option, and he’s willing to do that here again,” Leavitt said.

- AFP