US envoys head to Pakistan for Iran talks as ceasefire extension holds

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What's Happening

The White House confirmed on April 25 that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Special Envoy for Peace Missions Jared Kushner will travel to Islamabad for a second round of direct talks with Iran, mediated by Pakistan. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in the Pakistani capital on April 24 but his office denied any planned meeting with U.S. negotiators, stating that Iran's positions would be conveyed through Pakistani officials. The two-week ceasefire, originally set to expire April 22, was extended indefinitely by President Trump following a request from Pakistan, as diplomatic efforts continue amid a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

How We Got Here

The confrontation between the United States and Iran has its roots in the Trump administration's decision on May 8, 2018, to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Iran nuclear deal. This move reimposed severe economic sanctions on Tehran, crippling its economy and prompting a resumption of uranium enrichment activities. Over the following years, sanctions isolated Iran, driving it to bolster regional proxy networks and engage in hawkish rhetoric, while successive U.S. administrations maintained pressure. This volatile standoff created a powder keg in the Middle East, setting the stage for the escalations that would follow nearly a decade later. That catalyst arrived on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a devastating attack on Israel, deepening regional animosities and sharpening Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's focus on Iran as an existential threat. The subsequent war in Gaza drew Iran and its allies into a broader proxy conflict. By early 2026, five exiled Kurdish groups announced a coalition aimed at overthrowing Tehran's government on February 22, while a Gallup poll days later showed, for the first time, more Americans sympathized with Palestinians than Israelis. These developments contributed to the tensions that would soon trigger open war. The simmering conflict erupted into full-scale war on February 28, 2026, when the US and Israel launched joint military strikes, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, targeting over 20 Iranian provinces. President Donald Trump declared the start of 'major combat operations', and Iranian state media confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in these strikes, ending his decades-long rule. Iran responded swiftly with retaliatory missile and drone strikes across the Middle East, hitting Israel, Bahrain, Syria, Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. The war quickly drew in global actors, with immediate effects on energy markets and maritime security. In early March, the war's scope broadened significantly. A drone attack on March 2 halted operations at Qatar's largest LNG facility, impacting about one-fifth of global LNG supply, while two days later, a US submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian frigate Iris Dena off Sri Lanka, killing at least 87 sailors. Amidst the chaos, Iranian state media reported on March 8 that the Experts Council had appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader, yet he has not been seen publicly since. On March 17, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, was killed in Tehran, highlighting the fragility of the new order and the relentless targeting of key figures. Iran responded with sustained missile campaigns targeting both Israel and Gulf energy infrastructure. The war entered a phase of diplomatic maneuvering, with President Trump threatening to 'massively blow up' Iran's South Pars gas field if attacks continued. A US Senate intelligence hearing on March 18 revealed divisions over Tehran's nuclear capabilities, with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stating that Iran had not rebuilt its enrichment program, contradicting Trump's assertions. By late March, military engagements continued unabated: on March 21, Iranian ballistic missiles struck southern Israel, injuring nearly 200 people, and Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. A flurry of attacks and contentious diplomacy marked early April. On April 3, Iran downed a US F-15E fighter jet, leading to a 36-hour rescue operation that Trump claimed successfully recovered the crew, though Iran said the effort failed. Hezbollah sharply increased operations in Lebanon, expanding the war's geographic scope. On April 5, Trump threatened to destroy Iran's bridges and power plants if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed, setting a deadline. The fragile diplomatic window narrowed on April 7 when Trump announced a conditional two-week ceasefire with Iran, contingent on opening the strait, citing a ten-point proposal mediated by Pakistan. However, Iran's Revolutionary Guard stated the strait would not be opened through US pressure, creating a dispute over the agreement's validity. The ceasefire took effect on April 8, leading to a surge in global stock markets and a plunge in oil prices. High-stakes talks between US and Iranian officials convened in Islamabad on April 11, with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf leading the delegation. However, tensions rose when US Central Command claimed that two destroyers had transited the Strait of Hormuz to clear sea mines—a statement denied by the Iranian military. The diplomatic window closed on April 12 when US Vice President JD Vance stated that marathon talks had ended without an agreement, citing Iran's refusal to accept terms on nuclear weapons. Later that day, President Trump declared that the US Navy would begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz, with CENTCOM announcing the blockade would start on April 13. On April 13, President Trump enforced a naval blockade of Iranian ports, two days after the first round of US-Iran talks in Islamabad ended inconclusively. The blockade aimed to cut off Iranian revenue from maritime trade, with CENTCOM stating it would apply to vessels of all nations entering or leaving Iranian ports. Iran responded by threatening to target ports in Gulf-bordering countries and warning that no port in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman would be safe. Amid the escalation, the US reported that no ships made it past the blockade in the first 24 hours, though tracking data appeared to show some Iran-linked vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The ceasefire remained technically in effect but grew increasingly fragile. Amid the ongoing blockade, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz on April 18 and stated it would not reopen until the United States ended its blockade of Iranian ports. On April 19, the USS Spruance intercepted the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska in the northern Oman Sea, as shown in verified footage. Iranian Deputy Minister Gholamhossein Mohammadi said that two million people had lost their jobs because of the conflict. President Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire by attacking ships in the strait and threatened to destroy every power plant and bridge in Iran if a peace deal is not accepted, marking a renewed escalation. Rather than allowing the ceasefire to expire on April 22, President Trump unilaterally extended it on April 21, maintaining the naval blockade while awaiting a unified proposal from Iran. The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States has halted dollar shipments to Iraq and suspended security cooperation to pressure Iran-backed militias. President Trump stated that the US has no timeframe for ending the war and is not rushing to conclude the conflict, rejecting allegations about midterm election motivations. A new analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that the 54-day war is depleting the Pentagon's munitions stockpile. The US maintains its naval blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed, demanding an end to the blockade. On April 24, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad and was received by Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and other senior officials. Earlier that day, Dar and Araghchi held a phone call discussing regional developments and Pakistan's mediation role. Araghchi stated on social media that he is heading to Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow to coordinate with partners on regional matters, without explicitly confirming talks with the US. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Special Envoy for Peace Jared Kushner will leave for Pakistan on Saturday to engage in a second round of direct US-Iran talks mediated by Pakistan. However, Pakistani government sources said Araghchi was not scheduled to meet US negotiators, creating a dispute over the planned talks. On April 25, Araghchi met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Munir in Islamabad to discuss regional developments and bilateral ties. The White House confirmed that Witkoff and Kushner departed for Pakistan that same day for intermediated talks with Iran, but Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei denied that any meeting between Iran and the United States is planned in Islamabad, asserting that Iran's views will be conveyed to Pakistan. This fundamental disagreement underscores the deep mistrust between the parties. The ceasefire remains technically extended, the naval blockade continues, and the Strait of Hormuz stays closed, with neither side willing to make the first concession. The standoff perpetuates a conflict that has already caused thousands of casualties, massive economic disruption, and humanitarian crises across the Middle East and beyond.

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