US Vice President JD Vance will skip the upcoming round of peace negotiations with Iran in Islamabad. Vance, who headed the initial US delegation that ended without agreement, remains on standby for potential involvement if discussions intensify, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Vance on Standby, Not Sidelined
Leavitt emphasized that Vance’s absence does not signal any demotion by President Donald Trump. Instead, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, lead the US team in efforts to revive ceasefire discussions with Tehran. Iran has rejected direct talks with American officials.
“Steve and Jared will head to Pakistan tomorrow to hear the Iranians out,” Leavitt said in a statement. “The president, the vice president, and the secretary of state will await updates from the United States, with the vice president ready to travel if needed.”
Context of the Ceasefire and Economic Strain
An indefinite ceasefire currently halts most hostilities, yet disruptions persist. The Strait of Hormuz closure hampers global energy shipments, fueling economic pressures worldwide.
Pakistan pushes for renewed diplomacy following Trump’s recent extension of the truce at Islamabad’s urging. Witkoff and Kushner plan meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. However, Iran’s foreign ministry clarified that any exchanges will occur indirectly through Pakistani intermediaries after Araghchi’s arrival in the capital.
