Iran ruled out direct negotiations with U.S. representatives Saturday even as envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveled to Islamabad for a new round of ceasefire talks, according to AP. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Pakistan on Friday night, but his ministry quickly clarified that any exchange would be indirect, with Pakistani officials ferrying messages between the two delegations.
The White House had framed the trip in more optimistic terms. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that Trump sent Witkoff and Kushner to Pakistan “to hear the Iranians out,” adding, “We’ve certainly seen some progress from the Iranian side in the last couple of days.”
The gap between those two framings is the story. The U.S. side is signaling openness; Iran is insisting on a structure that keeps the Americans at arm’s length, the same indirect format used in Geneva on Feb. 27, when the two sides walked away without a deal. The war started the following day.
Pakistan has been the key broker throughout, and Islamabad’s effort here carries real stakes: Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran this week specifically at Pakistan’s request, buying more time for diplomatic outreach.
Officials have not specified when Witkoff and Kushner are expected to arrive in Islamabad, and no further details on the talks have been released. This is a developing story.
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