President Donald Trump is sending senior envoy Steve Witkoff and former adviser Jared Kushner to Pakistan this weekend for a high-stakes meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, but Vice President J.D. Vance is no longer expected to join the delegation, according to multiple reports citing administration sources.
The shift comes after earlier reports suggested Vance might participate in the Islamabad discussions. However, sources now say the U.S. diplomatic effort will be led solely by Witkoff and Kushner as the White House attempts to reopen direct communication with Tehran amid rising regional tensions.
Officials told media outlets that Pakistan is quietly facilitating the talks in an effort to prevent further escalation between Washington and Tehran. The meeting could become one of the most sensitive backchannel diplomatic contacts between the Trump administration and Iran in recent months.
Neither the White House nor Iran’s Foreign Ministry has officially confirmed the planned meeting.
