US says direct talks are on, Iran says no: confusion over Pakistan meeting
Trump sends Witkoff and Kushner; meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry denies US discussions even as Araghchi arrives in Islamabad
US President Donald Trump is sending special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Pakistan for talks with “representatives from the Iranian delegation” this weekend, the White House confirmed on Friday.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Trump-friendly Fox News that the “America first” president will be “dispatching” the duo “tomorrow morning to engage in direct talks” and “hear the Iranians out”.
Araghchi has frequently appeared on international and US media during the conflict with the United States and Israel to present Iran’s position, and his position has taken on added prominence amid growing questions over who is in control in Tehran.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, however, appeared to contradict Washington, saying in a social media post that no US-Iran meeting was scheduled and that “Iran’s observations would be conveyed to Pakistan”.
Trump told Reuters in a phone interview that the Iranians were “making an offer”, but added that he didn’t know what the offer was. “We’ll have to see,” he said.
He refused to say whom in Tehran the US was negotiating with: “I don’t want to say that, but we’re dealing with the people that are in charge now.”