Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner will travel to Islamabad on Saturday for direct negotiations with Iranian representatives, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Friday.
The meeting comes at Iran’s request. Iranian officials asked for the in-person session after President Donald Trump publicly called for talks, Leavitt said.
“The president is dispatching Steve and Jared to go hear what they have to say,” Leavitt told reporters. “We’re hopeful that it will be a productive conversation and hopefully move the ball forward toward a deal.”
Pakistan will serve as an intermediary in the discussions. Leavitt described Pakistani officials as “incredible friends” throughout the negotiation process.
The talks mark a second attempt at a breakthrough after the first round, led by Vice President JD Vance, ended without an agreement. At that point, Vance said the U.S. had put forward its “final and best offer,” but Tehran refused to concede on key provisions of its nuclear program.
Vance is not expected to attend this round. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Tehran’s delegation in the previous session, is also sitting out. Leavitt said Vance remains on standby and could travel to Islamabad if negotiations advance.
Trump extended an existing two-week ceasefire while awaiting what he called a “unified” response from the Iranian government.
“President Trump has made his red lines throughout this entire process very clear,” Leavitt said. “He was flexible in extending the ceasefire, and so Steve and Jared will be off.”
Trump said Thursday he is not under pressure to finalize a deal quickly, and suggested the leverage lies with Washington.
“For those people, fewer in number now than ever before, that are reading The Failing New York Times, or watching Fake News CNN, that think that I am ‘anxious’ to end the War with Iran, please be advised that I am possibly the least pressured person ever to be in this position. I have all the time in the World, but Iran doesn’t. The clock is ticking!” Trump wrote on social media.
The president also cited Iran’s weakened military position following U.S. operations and the ongoing blockade as factors shifting the balance of power to Washington’s side.
“Iran’s Navy is lying at the bottom of the Sea, their Air Force is demolished, their Anti Aircraft and Radar Weaponry is gone, their leaders are no longer with us, the Blockade is airtight and strong and, from there, it only gets worse. Time is not on their side!” Trump said.
