White House says Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner to visit Pakistan for second round of direct talks with Iran

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Friday that US Special Envoy on the Middle East Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s adviser Jared Kushner would be leaving for Pakistan on Saturday for a second round of talks with Iran.

The White House has confirmed that senior US officials, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will travel to Pakistan on Saturday to initiate a second round of talks with Iran.

According to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the discussions will involve direct engagement with Iranian representatives, facilitated by Pakistan, which she described as a “key and trusted mediator” in the process.

The visit follows initial negotiations held in Islamabad earlier this month that ended without a deal but kept diplomatic channels open. US leadership, including Donald Trump, remains on standby in Washington, awaiting updates, while further high-level participation is being considered if progress is made.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also expected in Islamabad as part of a regional tour. While Tehran has framed the visit as bilateral consultations, recent communications indicate both sides are open to continued dialogue.

Pakistan has intensified its diplomatic efforts in recent days, aiming to revive negotiations and reduce tensions following disputes over the Strait of Hormuz and US sanctions.

Despite lingering mistrust, both Washington and Tehran have signaled cautious optimism, raising hopes that the upcoming talks could move the situation toward stability.