The White House confirmed that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Pakistan on Saturday for another round of talks aimed at ending the war with Iran. Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Islamabad a day earlier; Pakistan hosted direct U.S.-Iran discussions earlier this month. Araghchi’s spokesperson said no direct meeting with U.S. officials was planned, and Pakistan said Araghchi would meet senior Pakistani officials. Araghchi wrote on social media that Iran’s observations would be shared with Pakistan. He said his visit is to coordinate on bilateral matters, consult on regional developments, and that he will also visit Oman and Russia.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News the president sent Witkoff and Kushner “to go hear” what the Iranians have to say and expressed hope the encounters would be productive and move negotiations toward a deal. Vice President Vance, who led the U.S. delegation previously, will not travel this weekend but remains deeply involved and will stand by with the president, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the national security team.
The announcement came amid renewed violence between Israel and Lebanon. Israel said it struck targets in southern Lebanon it described as belonging to Iran-backed Hezbollah after rockets were fired into Israel. That fighting occurred despite President Trump’s statement that Israel and Lebanon had agreed at the White House to extend their ceasefire by three weeks; Hezbollah was not part of those talks and opposes them. The fragile Israel-Lebanon ceasefire is linked to broader U.S. efforts to negotiate an end to the war with Iran. Tehran has demanded that fighting in Lebanon remain paused as a precondition for further talks.
Trump unilaterally extended a ceasefire with Iran this week hours before it was due to expire but did not set a new end date. Iran called that extension “meaningless,” saying a continued U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports violates the deal and asserting its delegation will not resume negotiations until the blockade is lifted.
1) Witkoff and Kushner travel to Pakistan
Leavitt said the Iranians requested talks. The White House reiterated hope for progress while leaving open whether Araghchi will meet U.S. officials directly. President Trump said he is in no hurry and wants to “take my time” to secure the best deal.
2) NATO rift — reported Pentagon memo
Reuters reported an internal Pentagon memo by Elbridge Colby that proposed punitive measures against NATO allies labeled “difficult,” including suspending Spain from the alliance and blocking allies from top posts. The Pentagon declined to comment on internal deliberations, saying it is ensuring the president has credible options. Spain, which has resisted U.S. base use and called the war illegal, rejected the report and said it acts on official positions, not leaked emails.
3) Mines in the Strait of Hormuz
President Trump said he ordered the U.S. Navy to engage vessels attempting to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used similar strong language. A Pentagon assessment given to Congress estimates clearing Iranian-laid mines could take up to six months. The threat has severely disrupted shipping: many vessels avoid the area after recent attacks and seizures, around 20,000 seafarers remain aboard ships, and shipments of helium, fertilizer and aluminum have been delayed, causing shortages and higher costs.
4) U.S. sanctions Chinese refinery, shipping network
The Treasury sanctioned Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery and roughly 40 shipping firms and vessels accused of helping an illicit tanker network move Iranian oil. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration will constrict the networks Iran uses to move oil and warned facilitators risk U.S. sanctions. Separately, the administration extended a Jones Act waiver to ease domestic gasoline and refined product movements amid global disruption, a step seen as having limited impact on consumer gas prices.
5) Pope Leo XIV urges renewed negotiations
Pope Leo XIV appealed for the United States and Iran to return to negotiations and adopt a “culture of peace.” Speaking aboard the papal plane after an African trip, he called the talks complex but urged all sides to remain committed to dialogue, holding up a photo of a young Muslim Lebanese boy killed in recent fighting as a reminder of the human cost.