JD Vance will be staying out of the next round of peace talks with Iran in Islamabad.
The US vice president, who led the US delegation in the first round of talks with Tehran that collapsed, will not be attending the second round of negotiations when they resume today, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Friday.
She noted that he will remain on standby to travel to Pakistan should peace talks become serious and said it was not a case of the VP being sidelined by President Donald Trump.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff and the presidents son-in-law, Jared Kushner will still attend in a new bid to salvage ceasefire talks with Tehran, even as Iran ruled out direct negotiations with US representatives.
In a statement, Leavitt said: Steve and Jared will be heading to Pakistan tomorrow to hear the Iranians out.
The president, the vice president, the secretary of state, will be waiting here in the United States for updates, and the vice president, I understand, is on standby and will be willing to dispatch to Pakistan if we feel its a necessary use of his time.
The latest effort to broker a deal comes as an indefinite ceasefire has paused most fighting, but economic fallout is still mounting with global energy shipments disrupted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan has been trying to get US and Iranian officials back to the table after Trump this week announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran, honouring Islamabad’s request for more time for diplomatic outreach.
The White House had said on Friday that Witkoff and Kushner were going to meet with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. But shortly after Araghchi arrived in Islamabad, his ministry said any talks would be indirect, with messages conveyed between the two sides by Pakistani officials.
Iran executes man over alleged links to Mossad
Iran hanged a man today over alleged ties to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency and his participation in anti-government protests in January.
Erfan Kiani was the latest in a series of executions in Iran following the war and nationwide protests.
The Mizan news agency of Iran’s judiciary announced Kiani was convicted of charges including attacks on security forces in the city of Asfahan in January.
The agency claimed he was on a 'mission for Mossad' without offering evidence.
Human rights activists long have said Iran convicts people in closed-door trials without allowing defendants to properly defend themselves.
There have recently been multiple executions of alleged spies, as well as protesters and those affiliated with an Iranian exiled opposition group.
Iran's foreign minister already in Pakistan
Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met late Friday with Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir shortly after arriving in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, officials said.
On Saturday morning, Araghchi met with Munir and Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, officials said.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the Iranian delegation will hold talks with Pakistan’s senior leadership on the latest regional developments and efforts to promote peace and stability.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi meets Pakistan's Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in a location given as Islamabad, Pakistan, released April 25, 2026
Trump sends envoys to Islamabad
US envoys are expected to travel to Pakistan on Saturday in a new bid to salvage ceasefire talks with Tehran, even as Iran ruled out direct negotiations with US representatives as its top diplomat arrived in Islamabad.
The White House said Friday that President Donald Trump would send Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to meet with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. But shortly after Araghchi arrived in Islamabad, his ministry said any talks would be indirect, with messages conveyed between the two sides by Pakistani officials.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that the president had decided to send Witkoff and Kushner to Pakistan 'to hear the Iranians out.'
'We’ve certainly seen some progress from the Iranian side in the last couple of days,' Leavitt said. She did not offer any details about what US officials were hearing.
Pictured: Army personnel keep watch along a closed road in the Red Zone area of Islamabad on April 25, 2026. US envoys headed to the Pakistani capital on April 25 in a bid to kickstart a new round of peace negotiations with Iran amid a fragile ceasefire, though the prospect of direct talks remained uncertain
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