Anamika Dey, editor
● BREAKING — LIVE • April 25, 2026
WORLD • MIDDLE EAST • US-IRAN WAR 2026 • DIPLOMACY
The White House confirmed Friday that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are flying to Islamabad, Pakistan on Saturday for direct peace talks with Iran. Hours later, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson flatly said: “No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US.” Pakistan’s mediators say they are “cautiously optimistic.” The world holds its breath.
April 25, 2026 • By World Affairs Desk, techsunnews.com • 12 min read • Updated 6:00 AM IST • Sources: CNN, CBS News, CNBC, Al Jazeera, NPR
SITUATION DASHBOARD — April 25, 2026
| US envoys
Witkoff + Kushner Flying to Pakistan Saturday |
Iran FM
Araghchi in Islamabad Denies direct US talks |
Iran says
No meeting planned Contradicts White House |
Mediator
Pakistan Cautiously optimistic |
KEY POINTS
|
| RELATED COVERAGE ON TECHSUNNEWS.COM
→ 21 Hours, No Deal: How the First Round of US-Iran Talks in Islamabad Collapsed What went wrong in Round 1 — the nuclear gap, Vance’s empty-handed return, and why Round 2 matters more → Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Extended 3 Weeks — Trump Announces at the White House The other major diplomatic move happening in parallel — and how Hezbollah is already rejecting it → Hormuz Mines Could Take 6 Months to Clear — Pentagon Warns Congress Why a peace deal alone won’t reopen the world’s most important oil waterway |
On the 56th day of the US-Iran war, the world is watching the most confusing diplomatic moment of the conflict. The White House says peace talks are happening on Saturday. Iran says they are not. Pakistan’s mediators say they are “cautiously optimistic.” Three governments. Three different versions of reality. The only certainty: Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are boarding a plane to Islamabad, and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is already there. What happens when they arrive may determine whether this war ends — or escalates into something far worse.
The backdrop to Saturday’s talks is a week of compounding diplomatic confusion. Vice President JD Vance was expected to lead the US delegation to Pakistan for a second round of talks — before cancelling. The first round, held on April 12, collapsed after 21 hours with Vance flying home empty-handed. The nuclear gap — Washington demanding 20 years of uranium enrichment suspension, Tehran offering 3 to 5 years — was left unresolved. Since then, Iran has seized international ships in Hormuz, the US blockade has tightened, and Trump has ordered the Navy to shoot and kill any Iranian boat laying mines in the strait.
“I can confirm special envoy Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be off to Pakistan again tomorrow morning to engage in talks — direct talks, intermediated by the Pakistanis — with representatives from the Iranian delegation.”
— White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Fox News, April 25, 2026
What the White House is saying
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was explicit on Fox News Friday. She confirmed Witkoff and Kushner will travel to Pakistan “again tomorrow morning” for talks “direct, intermediated by the Pakistanis, who have been incredible friends and mediators throughout this entire process.”
Critically, Leavitt said it was Iran that reached out and requested the in-person conversation. “The Iranians reached out, as the president called on them to do, and requested the in-person conversation,” she said. “So the president is dispatching Steve and Jared to go hear what they have to say, and we’re hopeful that it will be a productive conversation and hopefully move the ball forward towards a deal.”
The White House confirmed that VP Vance — who led the first round — will not be going to Pakistan this time. He will remain in Washington on standby, consulting with Trump and Secretary of State Rubio. The replacement of Vance with Kushner is significant: Kushner is Trump’s son-in-law and has deep personal relationships across the Middle East. He helped negotiate the Abraham Accords during Trump’s first term and brokered the Gaza ceasefire. His involvement signals Trump is treating these talks with elevated personal importance.
What Iran is saying — and why the contradiction matters
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei was equally blunt — but in the opposite direction. In a post on X, Baghaei wrote: “No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US.” He added that Iran’s “observations would be conveyed to Pakistan” and that FM Araghchi was in Islamabad to meet Pakistani officials “in concert with their ongoing mediation and good offices.”
Iranian semi-official news agencies Tasnim and Nournews — the latter affiliated with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council — both confirmed there would be no direct negotiations with American officials. However, analysts and Pakistani officials note this is not necessarily the final word. In late March, there were similar contradictions: the US said it had held “productive conversations” with Iran; Tehran denied any talks. Yet dialogue did eventually happen. The current back-and-forth may reflect internal political divisions inside Iran — between hardliners who oppose any contact with Washington and moderates who believe a deal is necessary to lift the blockade.
“No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US. Iran’s observations would be conveyed to Pakistan.”
— Esmaeil Baghaei, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, April 25, 2026
Pakistan’s role — the crucial middle ground
Pakistan has been the indispensable mediator throughout this conflict. It hosted the first round of talks on April 12 which ended without a deal. It has maintained back-channel communication with both sides through the three weeks of the US naval blockade. And it is now hosting both Araghchi and — pending arrival — Witkoff and Kushner simultaneously, even if the two delegations are not in the same room.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Islamabad said Pakistani mediators are “cautiously optimistic” that something productive can emerge this weekend. The key mechanism being discussed: indirect talks where Pakistan passes proposals and responses between the US and Iranian delegations without a face-to-face meeting. This is how some of the most sensitive diplomatic breakthroughs in history have happened — through intermediaries rather than direct contact. Even if Araghchi refuses to sit in the same room as Witkoff, substantive progress is still possible.
What a deal would need to cover
| US demands | Iran’s position |
|---|---|
| 20-year halt on uranium enrichment | Offering 3–5 years maximum |
| Remove all highly enriched uranium from Iran | Refuses — security guarantee required |
| End funding to Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis | Will not abandon proxy network |
| Full opening of Strait of Hormuz, zero tolls | Will reopen only when blockade lifted |
| Accept regional peace framework | Demands US blockade lifted first |
The gap between the two positions remains enormous. But the fact that both sides are in the same city — even if not in the same room — and that Pakistan is actively bridging between them represents the closest the two sides have been to a serious conversation since the Islamabad talks collapsed on April 12. Defence Secretary Hegseth warned Friday that if Iran does not make a deal, its economy will “collapse under the unrelenting pressure” of the US naval blockade. Trump echoed the sentiment, saying “time is not on Tehran’s side.”
Tehran flights resume — a positive signal amid the tensions
One quietly significant development happened on Friday: international flights from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport resumed for the first time since the US-Iran war erupted on February 28. Four flights departed early Saturday for Istanbul — operated by Iranian carriers. Flights to Medina and Muscat also resumed. The resumption of civilian air travel — however limited — is a signal that the ceasefire framework is holding at some level, and that both sides are taking small steps toward normalisation even as military and diplomatic tensions peak.
The Lebanon dimension — Hezbollah rejects the ceasefire
Complicating the Pakistan diplomacy: a prominent Hezbollah lawmaker said Friday that the group “firmly rejects” the three-week Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extension announced by Trump. Hezbollah also shot down an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon. Israel warned it will “continue to act decisively.” This matters for the Iran talks because Tehran’s position has consistently been that it will not make a deal while its allies in Lebanon are under Israeli military pressure.
Frequently asked questions (People Also Ask)
Are US-Iran peace talks happening on April 25?
The White House confirmed Witkoff and Kushner are flying to Pakistan on Saturday April 25 for talks. But Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said “no meeting is planned.” Iran’s FM Araghchi is in Islamabad but says he is there to meet Pakistani officials only. Pakistan’s mediators are cautiously optimistic that indirect talks — messages passed via Pakistan — could still produce progress.
Why is Jared Kushner going to Pakistan instead of Vance?
VP Vance was expected to lead Round 2 of the US-Iran talks but cancelled his trip earlier this week after Iran signalled it would not show up. Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, brings deep personal relationships with Middle Eastern leaders built during Trump’s first term — including the Abraham Accords. His involvement signals Trump is elevating the personal importance of these talks.
What is Iran’s position on peace talks?
Iran says it will only engage in talks if the US naval blockade of its ports is lifted first. The US refuses to lift the blockade until a deal is struck. Iran’s FM Araghchi is in Islamabad for a regional tour but Tehran’s official position as of April 25 is that no direct meeting with US officials is scheduled.
What happened at the first round of US-Iran talks in Islamabad?
The first round collapsed on April 12 after 21 hours with VP Vance flying home empty-handed. The core sticking point: the US demanded a 20-year halt on uranium enrichment; Iran offered 3 to 5 years. No deal was reached on Hormuz reopening or proxy funding either.
What does Pakistan’s mediation involve?
Pakistan is acting as a trusted intermediary — hosting both delegations and passing proposals between them. Even if the US and Iran don’t meet face to face, Pakistan can relay positions, test concessions and narrow the gap. Islamabad has been the venue for all meaningful US-Iran contact since the war began on February 28.
What happens next
The next 24 to 48 hours are among the most consequential of the war. If Witkoff and Kushner land in Islamabad and some form of indirect contact with the Iranian delegation produces even a partial agreement — on a timeline, a framework, a confidence-building measure — markets could surge and the ceasefire could stabilise. If they land, meet Pakistani officials, and fly home empty-handed again, the pressure will grow for military escalation.
The nuclear gap remains the core problem. But beyond the nuclear question, the Strait of Hormuz mine crisis means that even a signed deal would not immediately reopen global energy markets. The world is watching Islamabad this weekend. We will update this article as events develop. Follow techsunnews.com for live coverage.
SOURCES — 9 verified portals
1. CNN Live — Iran’s FM in Islamabad; US says envoys to travel for talks (April 25, 2026)
2. CBS News — Witkoff, Kushner to take part in second round of Iran peace talks in Pakistan (April 25)
3. CNBC — Kushner, Witkoff — not Vance — heading to Pakistan for ‘direct talks’ with Iran
4. Al Jazeera Liveblog — Iran war live: Tehran’s FM in Islamabad; US says envoys to travel (April 25)
5. NPR — News headlines including Iran talks and Minab schoolgirls tribute (April 25, 2026)
6. Al Jazeera (previous) — Iran war updates: Witkoff, Kushner to fly to Pakistan (April 24)
7. techsunnews.com — 21 Hours, No Deal: US Iran Peace Talks in Islamabad Collapse (April 12)
8. techsunnews.com — Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Extended 3 Weeks — Trump White House (April 24)
9. techsunnews.com — Hormuz Mines Could Take 6 Months to Clear, Pentagon Warns (April 23)
| DISCLAIMER: This article is based on 9 verified sources as of April 25, 2026, 6:00 AM IST. This is a live developing story — the status of talks may change rapidly. All official quotes are attributed to named officials. This article does not constitute investment or financial advice. |
