-- The White House said a US delegation will travel to Pakistan as Iran signals readiness for talks following a ceasefire extension, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday.
In an emailed response toquery, the White House referred to Leavitt's public comments, without providing additional details.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will depart Saturday morning for Pakistan to hold discussions with Iranian officials, Leavitt told Fox News in an interview on Friday.
Leavitt said Iranian officials want to hold talks in person and that "the President always wants to give diplomacy a chance."
On Vice President J D Vance, she said, "he'll be standing by here in the United States," but could travel to Pakistan if needed, depending on how the talks progress.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is reportedly expected to arrive in Islamabad Friday night with a small delegation to advance efforts toward restarting direct negotiations with the US.
Araghchi posted on his X, "Embarking on timely tour of Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow. Purpose of my visits is to closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments. Our neighbors are our priority."
The renewed diplomatic push follows a conflict that began Feb. 28, with President Donald Trump extending the ceasefire to allow time for negotiations.
Trump said in a Truth Social post Tuesday that the US would hold off on attacking Iran "until such time as their leaders... come up with a unified proposal," following a request from Pakistan's leadership.