The White House announced Friday that US President Donald Trump is dispatching envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the pair are set to depart for Islamabad on Saturday, while Vice President JD Vance, who led the first round of negotiations, will not travel but remains “deeply involved.”

Leavitt told reporters that “everybody will be on standby to fly to Pakistan if necessary” and expressed hope for a productive conversation that could “move the ball forward to a deal.” She noted “some progress from the Iranian side in the last couple of days” but offered no specifics on what US officials were hearing.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said in a social media post that he was heading to Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow to “closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments.” His comments did not address any possible resumption of talks with the US, though he spoke with senior Pakistani officials by phone earlier Friday.

Pakistani authorities have intensified efforts in recent weeks to broker a second round of ceasefire negotiations between the US and Iran. The first round earlier this month produced an uneasy truce, which Trump unilaterally extended by two weeks at the eleventh hour. However, his subsequent order to “shoot and kill” any minelaying boats in the Strait of Hormuz has cast doubt on the commitment.

Meanwhile, European leaders at a summit in Cyprus called for a ceasefire in Iran and the wider region. European Council President Antonio Costa said the war “has already had disastrous consequences for people, infrastructure, and the global economy” and stressed that European security is closely linked to that of the Middle East. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added that any peace agreement with Iran must address its ballistic missile program and ensure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz “without tolls.”

Source: www.dw.com