Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner along with VP Vance will head to Pakistan for talks. (Photo: AP/ Reuters)US President Donald Trump is sending a delegation to Pakistan to hold talks on a lasting peace agreement with Iran which will be led by Vice President JD Vance, the White House told reporters, adding that the first round of negotiations would take place on Saturday.Trump will also be dispatching his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Islamabad to take part in the negotiations. From the Iranian side, since several of its political leaders were killed in the war, Iran’s delegation is expected to be led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Reuters reported..@PressSec: “@VP has played very significant and a key role in this since the very beginning. Of course, he’s @POTUS‘ right hand man…he’s been involved in all of these discussions and, as I just announced, he’ll be leading this new phase of negotiations in Islamabad.” pic.twitter.com/vRd76kXv6E— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 8, 2026During a White House press briefing on Wednesday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “I can announce that the president is dispatching his negotiating team led by the Vice President of United States, JD, Vance, special envoy Witkoff and Kushner to Islamabad for talks this weekend.”When asked by reporters about Vance’s role in ceasefire between US and Iran, Leavitt said the vice president’s role has been “very significant,” adding that he has been involved in all discussions.Also Read | Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again after Israeli strikes kill over 100 in LebanonThe White House press secretary further said the negotiators will work to merge US and Iran’s framework over ceasefire proposal into an agreement during talks in Islamabad on Saturday. “The president’s red lines, namely, the end of uranium enrichment in Iran have not changed,” Leavitt said.The confirmation of talks came hours after a ceasefire deal was signed between US-Israel and Iran to halt the hostilities in West Asia which began on February 28.However, Iran has reportedly said that it has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global oil and gas, after Israel launched its heaviest strikes yet on Lebanon which killed 112 people on Wednesday.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier said the ceasefire deal didn’t include Iran-backed militia group Hezbollah, which is stationed in Lebanon and Tel Aviv said it would “continue to strike them.”The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:donald trumpUS Iran tensions