Live: Witkoff and Kushner heading to Pakistan for talks with Iran, White House says

Introduction

The White House announced that President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner will travel to Pakistan for talks with Iran, as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Islamabad. The visit, set for Saturday, comes amid deadlocked negotiations between the two countries and ongoing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the travel plans, saying that the envoys will engage in talks mediated by Pakistan. "The Iranians reached out, as the president called on them to do, and asked for this in-person conversation," Leavitt said, as reported by Al Jazeera and Yonhap News. She added that the talks would "hopefully move the ball forward towards a deal."

Coverage Comparison

The story is being covered by multiple international outlets, including ABC Australia, Al Jazeera, BBC World, Dawn, France 24 English, and Yonhap News. Most reports highlight the departure of Witkoff and Kushner, with several noting that Vice President JD Vance, who led the first round of negotiations earlier this month, will remain in the United States but is on standby to travel if necessary.

Al Jazeera's coverage, which tends to be cautious, notes the uncertainty over whether the Iranian delegation will meet directly with US envoys. The BBC reports that Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said no meeting is planned between Iran and the US, and that Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan. This contrasts with Leavitt's more optimistic framing of the talks, as she told Fox News that the US had seen "some progress" from the Iranian side in recent days.

Key Claims

The central claim of the story, supported by all six outlets, is the White House announcement that Witkoff and Kushner will travel to Pakistan for talks with Iran. This is attributed to press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who confirmed the plan in interviews and press briefings.

Araghchi's arrival in Islamabad is also widely reported. ABC Australia notes that he has met with Pakistan's army chief and prime minister, thanking Pakistan for its efforts to establish a ceasefire. Al Jazeera reports that his visit will be brief, focusing on proposals for talks with the US, which Pakistan would then convey to Washington.

The claim that Vice President JD Vance is on standby to join the talks is carried by multiple outlets, including ABC Australia, Al Jazeera, BBC World, and Dawn. Leavitt said Vance would be "willing to dispatch to Pakistan if we feel it's a necessary use of his time."

One claim, reported by ABC Australia, is that Iran has imposed a de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. This is mentioned in the context of the conflict, with the US and Israel having attacked Iran, and Tehran restricting shipping through the strait as a response.

Another claim, carried by a single outlet, is that the US has frozen $344 million in cryptocurrency assets linked to Iran. This was said by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, as reported by Al Jazeera.