US President Donald Trump is sending special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner to Pakistan to hold direct discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, according to a US official cited by international outlets on 24 April 2026. The trip, scheduled for this weekend, forms part of the latest round of Pakistan‑brokered negotiations aimed at shaping a durable framework to end the 2026 Iran war and managing the fragile ceasefire‑linked truce in the Strait of Hormuz. The official said that Witkoff and Kushner will lead the American delegation in Islamabad, while Vice President JD Vance is not currently planning to attend but is on standby in case talks reach a stage where his presence is required.
The two negotiators have already played central roles in the earlier, two‑week ceasefire‑phase talks, with Trump publicly describing the current package as a “very fair, reasonable deal” for Tehran if accepted. Witkoff, designated as Trump’s special envoy for Middle East‑peace missions, and Kushner, the President’s son‑in‑law and a key figure in past US‑brokered regional agreements, are expected to focus on security‑confidence‑building measures, the lifting or phasing‑out of the US‑imposed naval blockade, and sanctions‑related arrangements. Iran has signaled that any permanent deal must address not only sanctions but also guarantees on its nuclear and missile‑related programmes, as well as its regional security posture.
The planned high‑level contact in Pakistan comes amid intensified regional diplomacy, with Israeli, Lebanese and Gulf‑state actors closely monitoring the negotiations, since the outcome could reshape the broader Middle East security landscape. Washington has stressed that it is seeking a “comprehensive understanding” with Tehran, but Iranian officials continue to characterise the US‑led proposals as partial and driven by Washington’s strategic‑military agenda rather than genuine conflict‑resolution.