Trump’s Special Envoy Heads to Pakistan for Peace Talks

ISLAMABAD — This week, President Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East plans to visit Pakistan in an effort to renew negotiations aimed at ending the conflict involving Iran, as confirmed by his commander in a recent update.

Trump mentioned during a phone call from the White House that Steve Witkoff, the special envoy, would arrive in Islamabad Monday night for the upcoming round of peace talks.

Additionally, Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, known for his experience in past negotiations, is set to join the discussions on Tuesday.

Notably, Vice President J.D. Vance, who facilitated the previous talks, will not be present this time.

This new round of conversations comes on the heels of an incident where Iran fired upon a tanker attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, following claims from Iranian officials that the crucial shipping route had been reopened.

When informed that Qatari officials were in Islamabad, showing interest in hosting him if he traveled to Pakistan, Trump seemed unbothered, indicating he might consider the trip if an agreement is reached.

“Maybe a little later. We’ll have to see what happens tomorrow,” he noted, while addressing his potential appearance in Pakistan, stressing he was not moving forward with any plans just yet, reiterating, “Maybe at a later date.”

The call concluded rather abruptly as Trump mentioned senior military officials were waiting, a tangible reminder of the tensions surrounding these discussions.

On Friday, President Trump expressed optimism, claiming a breakthrough was in sight, stating Iran was “fully open, ready for business and full traffic,” while also asserting that the U.S. would secure all the “nuclear dust” in Iran.

Simultaneously, he reaffirmed that America’s blockade of Iranian ports would persist as both nations seek to finalize peace efforts.

Interestingly, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi publicly insisted that the Strait of Hormuz was “fully open” to commercial shipping. However, later comments from Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Berger Ghalibaf contradicted this, highlighting a disconnect within Iran’s leadership during the negotiations with the U.S.

“Iran decided to fire shots in the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, a complete violation of the ceasefire agreement! Many of them were aimed at French ships and British cargo ships. That wasn’t good, was it?” Trump reflected on the incident.

He further noted, “They’re the ones who are going to lose $500 million a day by closing the corridor, even though they’re helping us without even knowing it.” He added that the U.S. stands to gain significantly from the situation, with several ships en route to load supplies in the United States.

Trump remarked, “We don’t need Mr. Nice Guy anymore,” suggesting a shift in tone as he continues to press for resolution.

The ongoing two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is set to expire on Wednesday unless both sides agree to extend it. Trump has indicated that he doesn’t anticipate needing an extension but remains hopeful about reaching a peace agreement.

“It’s going to happen. Either way, the good way or the hard way. It’s going to happen,” he told reporters about the potential for peace.

He emphasized in other comments that if Iran does not sign the proposed deal, it may face severe consequences, insisting that the U.S. would target infrastructure if necessary. He has repeatedly called for Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions and is reportedly considering military options to secure nuclear materials.

Moreover, Trump stated that the U.S. is keeping a close eye on Iran’s nuclear facilities from above, with advanced satellite surveillance, and he hinted at having even more military capabilities than were demonstrated during earlier operations.