Two of Washington’s most trusted troubleshooters are on their way to Islamabad. According to US officials cited by international media, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are due in Pakistan this weekend for renewed Iran-related negotiations.
Iran’s foreign minister is already in the neighborhood. Abbas Araghchi was expected to reach the Pakistani capital that night with a small delegation, then carry on to Muscat and Moscow. Iranian state media said the trip centers on bilateral consultations and coordination on regional developments. Tehran has not confirmed any direct meeting with the American team.
Vice President JD Vance is on standby to travel to Islamabad too, should the talks make progress. Reporting on the plan suggests Washington wants to keep tight control over the pace of the negotiations despite deep mistrust.
Pakistan in the middle
Pakistan has played go-between throughout. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar recently held a call with Araghchi on ceasefire dynamics and diplomatic efforts, and Pakistani authorities stressed the need for sustained dialogue to head off further escalation.
The push follows an earlier round of Iran-US talks in Islamabad on April 11-12, held after a ceasefire brokered earlier in the month. That round ended with no breakthrough. A second round was delayed amid friction over maritime chokepoints and port access.
A crowded backdrop
Other fights are crowding the table. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently criticized European allies over the Strait of Hormuz standoff, calling it “their fight”. In Lebanon, a fragile ceasefire has been extended, though the Israel-Hezbollah conflict still hangs over the wider US-Iran talks.
Observers quoted in the report say overlapping crises, from the Strait of Hormuz to Israel-linked confrontations, have boxed in diplomacy. Competing power blocs, they say, are shaping these efforts more than any sustained push to de-escalate.
