Witkoff and Kushner expected to meet Iranian foreign minister in Pakistan

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to travel to Pakistan in the coming days for negotiations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, two U.S. officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: While President https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump extended the ceasefire with https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">Iran, the diplomatic efforts haven't https://www.axios.com/2026/04/23/iran-strait-hormuz-mines-trump" target="_blank">made any progress in recent days.

The trip is an effort to break the stalemate and build momentum for a deal before Trump goes back to exploring military options.

Driving the news: Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Friday night for talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Asim Munir.

• A Pakistani official told Axios that the meeting with Araghchi will focus on relaunching negotiations with the Trump administration.
• "A trilateral meeting with the U.S. will be assessed after our meeting with Araghchi," the Pakistani official said.
• Araghchi is expected to travel from Islamabad to Muscat, Oman, and then to Moscow, so it's unclear when he will meet the U.S. envoys.
• CNN first reported Witkoff and Kushner's planned trip.

Behind the scenes: Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. negotiating team in the previous round, will not make the trip.

• The U.S. officials said that's because his counterpart, Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, won't travel with Araghchi.
• A U.S. official and a source with knowledge said Ghalibaf grew frustrated with the infighting in the Iranian leadership after the previous round of talks, and even threatened to step aside.

  It's unclear if he's still the lead Iranian negotiator.

• "He was talking to other officials in Iran about resignation and considering it, but he has not done it yet," the source with knowledge said.

What to watch: The U.S. officials said Vance will be on standby to travel to Pakistan if talks progress.

He's expected to participate in phone calls with the team on the ground as needed.

• Vance's chief of staff and other members of his team will join Witkoff and Kushner in Pakistan, the U.S. officials said.