U.S. And Iran Hold New Indirect Talks In Pakistan As Trump-Extended Ceasefire Holds
U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff traveled to Islamabad on April 25 for indirect talks with Iran mediated by Pakistan, as a Trump-extended ceasefire remains in place.
Iran has said it will not meet U.S. envoys directly; Tehran will communicate via Pakistani intermediaries, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met Pakistan's prime minister in Islamabad. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the envoys' trip and said Vice President Vance will stay in Washington while President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio monitor talks remotely.
The episode traces back to President Trump's February 2025 'maximum pressure' campaign, stepped-up sanctions and threats after Iran's nuclear advances, and months of indirect talks that began in Muscat in April 2025. The nine-week-old conflict has killed 13 U.S. troops and more than 2,000 Iranians and wounded thousands on both sides, while Iran has enriched uranium to 60 percent purity. Iran has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz while the U.S. blocks Iranian oil exports, pushing Brent prices toward $95 a barrel and threatening further global energy pain.
President Trump unilaterally extended the ceasefire this week without setting a new end date, a move Tehran dismissed as meaningless while the U.S. naval blockade remains. Iran says it will only discuss wider terms if the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire holds and the U.S. lifts its naval blockade. U.S. officials say Tehran could open a diplomatic window by abandoning its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
📊 Relevant Data
As of April 8, 2026, the U.S.-Iran conflict has resulted in 13 U.S. troops killed and more than 380 wounded, while Iran's health ministry reports over 2,000 people killed and 20,000 wounded in Iran.
13 US troops killed, more than 380 wounded in Operation Epic Fury — Military Times
As of April 2026, Iran has enriched uranium to 60 percent purity, a level close to weapons-grade with no practical civilian application, though U.S. intelligence assesses no evidence of active efforts to weaponize its nuclear program.
The Status of Iran's Nuclear Program — Arms Control Association
As of April 20, 2026, Brent crude oil prices have risen to around $95 per barrel amid the Strait of Hormuz closure, with analysts forecasting averages over $100 for 2026 if disruptions persist for another month.
Goldman: Another Month of Hormuz Closure Means Over $100 Brent Throughout 2026 — OilPrice.com
📌 Key Facts
- On April 25, 2026 Pakistan hosted a new round of indirect U.S.–Iran talks in Islamabad, with Iranian FM Abbas Araqchi meeting Pakistan’s prime minister and senior officials while Iran refused direct meetings with U.S. envoys.
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Iran asked for the talks and that U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would travel to Islamabad on April 25; Vice President Vance will not travel and will remain in the U.S. with President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio monitoring from Washington.
- Iran said it will communicate its positions via Pakistani mediation rather than hold direct talks with the U.S.
- Tehran has set two explicit preconditions for further substantive talks: the Israel–Lebanon ceasefire with Hezbollah must remain in place, and the U.S. must lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
- President Trump unilaterally extended the June 24 ceasefire this week without setting a new end date, but Iran publicly dismissed the extension as “meaningless” while the U.S. naval blockade remains in place.
- Despite announcements of an Israel–Hezbollah ceasefire extension, cross-border violence continued — Israel acknowledged airstrikes in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel — and Hezbollah was not a party to the talks and opposes the arrangement.
- Bargaining positions remain far apart: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran has an “open window” if it abandons pursuit of a nuclear weapon in “meaningful and verifiable ways,” while an Iranian diplomatic source rejected what it called ‘maximalist demands.’
- The confrontation has major economic and transport effects: Iran has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz while the U.S. blocks Iran’s oil exports (keeping a key oil corridor effectively shut and sustaining multi‑year‑high energy prices), and international passenger flights from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport to cities including Medina, Muscat and Istanbul have resumed after a near‑total airspace closure.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms that on April 25, 2026, Pakistan is actively hosting a new round of indirect U.S.-Iran talks in Islamabad with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior Pakistani officials.
- Clarifies that Iran still refuses direct talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner; Tehran will communicate via Pakistani mediation.
- States the conflict is entering its ninth week and that President Trump this week extended the June 24 ceasefire, with White House officials citing recent signs of progress from Iran.
- Details current bargaining positions: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Iran has an ‘open window’ if it abandons pursuit of a nuclear weapon in ‘meaningful and verifiable ways,’ while an Iranian diplomatic source rejects ‘maximalist demands.’
- Reports that, days after Trump’s ceasefire extension, international passenger flights have resumed from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport to cities including Medina, Muscat and Istanbul after a near-total closure of Iranian airspace.
- Reiterates that Iran has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz while the U.S. blocks Iran’s oil exports, keeping a key oil corridor shut and sustaining multi-year-high energy prices.
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Fox News that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Islamabad on Saturday, April 25, specifically "to go hear" what the Iranians have to say, and said the Iranians asked for the talks.
- Leavitt said Vice President Vance, who led the prior U.S. delegation, will not travel this time and will instead remain in the U.S. with President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio monitoring from Washington.
- President Trump unilaterally extended the ceasefire with Iran this week hours before its expiration without setting a new end date; Iran publicly dismissed this extension as "meaningless" because the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports continues.
- Tehran has made two explicit preconditions for further substantive talks: that the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire with Hezbollah remain in place and that the U.S. lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
- Despite Trump’s announcement that Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire by three weeks, Israel’s military acknowledged airstrikes on southern Lebanon and Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel, while Hezbollah was not party to the talks and opposes the arrangement.
- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei reiterated that Araghchi would not hold direct talks with the U.S. in Islamabad and that Iran’s observations would be conveyed via Pakistan.