JD Vance to meet Iranian officials in Pakistan — Axios
Photo: US Vice President JD Vance (Getty Images)
US Vice President JD Vance will travel to Islamabad this morning to participate in emergency peace talks with Iranian officials. The talks were in danger of collapsing due to internal conflicts among Iran’s leadership, according to Axios.
There has been some confusion regarding the American delegation’s visit. Earlier, President Donald Trump told the New York Post that Vance was already on his way to Pakistan. However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry claimed the opposite.
According to Axios, as of Tuesday morning, the Vice President was still in the United States. But a clear signal from Tehran reached the White House, and Vance and his team are boarding a plane.
Delegation members:
- JD Vance, US Vice President
- Jared Kushner, the US President’s son-in-law and key negotiator
- Steve Witkoff, US Special Envoy
- Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament.
The negotiations were in danger of collapsing due to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Security officials demanded taking the toughest possible stance. The IRGC refused to engage in dialogue until the US lifted the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
International mediators saved the situation. Representatives from Pakistan, Egypt, and Türkiye spent hours urging Tehran not to miss the opportunity for negotiations, Axios sources reported. However, Iranian diplomats did not budge until they received personal approval from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Only after his order did preparations for the meeting resume.
The agency notes that Wednesday’s talks may address the lifting of the US naval blockade and a ceasefire in the region. Additionally, Iran’s nuclear program will be a key topic.
Background
Donald Trump threatened with "lots of bombs" after April 21 if no agreement is reached between the countries. That is the date on which the ceasefire expires.
Tehran, for its part, stated that it does not recognize any ultimatums from Washington and will not transfer its enriched uranium to the US or any other country.
Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz is both closed and open at the same time, if one takes into account the comments from both sides. However, oil tankers are not risking passage through it, which is reflected in oil prices, which have risen again, partly due to uncertainty surrounding the negotiations.
