US Vice President JD Vance will head to Islamabad for talks with Iran, reversing an earlier statement by President Trump who cited security concerns
WASHINGTON: US Vice President JD Vance will lead an American delegation for talks with Iran in Pakistan. A White House official confirmed the trip shortly after President Donald Trump said he would not send Vance.
Trump earlier announced he was sending negotiators to Islamabad for meetings about ending the Middle East conflict. He cited security concerns as the reason Vance would not make the trip.
“It’s only because of security,” Trump told ABC News. “JD’s great.”
The White House official, speaking anonymously, said Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner will attend. The trio were also present for the last round of talks on April 11-12.
Trump accused Iran of a “Total Violation” of the two-week ceasefire with attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. He threatened severe retaliation if no deal is reached.
He said on Truth Social he was offering Iran “a reasonable deal”. If Tehran refuses, “the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran.”
“They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done,” he wrote.
Washington’s UN envoy Mike Waltz told ABC News he believed the new talks would lead to an “incredibly consequential” outcome. The Strait of Hormuz remained closed amidst the stand-off.
Iran declared the strait shut again to shipping on Saturday. This came one day after saying it would reopen the strategic waterway.
A UK maritime agency said Iran’s Revolutionary Guards fired at one tanker on Saturday. Security firm Vanguard Tech reported the force threatened to “destroy” an empty cruise ship fleeing the Gulf.
In a third incident, the UK agency reported a vessel was hit by an unknown projectile. The attack caused damage to shipping containers but no fire.
The US-Iran ceasefire is scheduled to end on Wednesday.
