Washington: The United States will send a high-level delegation to Islamabad for talks with Iran, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed.
She said the team, which includes Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad, with the first round of negotiations expected on Saturday morning.
Leavitt noted that Iran had initially proposed a ceasefire and later agreed to workable terms, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz, after earlier proposals were rejected as unacceptable.
She emphasized that President Donald Trump’s red lines remain unchanged, particularly regarding freedom of navigation in the vital waterway.
She also revealed that Trump held a recent conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding that Lebanon is not part of the current ceasefire framework and discussions on that front will continue.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held a telephone conversation, during which the Iranian leader thanked Pakistan for its efforts in facilitating the ceasefire and confirmed that an Iranian delegation would visit Islamabad for talks.
Diplomatic sources said the negotiations will focus on formalizing ceasefire arrangements, with senior officials from both sides expected to participate.
US Vice President JD Vance is expected to arrive in Pakistan late tonight along with a high-level delegation for dialogue with Iran, according to sources.
Sources said the delegation will include Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who will participate in talks with the Iranian side.
A 23-member support team from the United States has already reached Islamabad, including security experts and other officials assisting the.
On the Iranian side, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are also expected to arrive in Islamabad later tonight for the negotiations.