The White House has reportedly refused to confirm reports of a US-Iran meet in Pak, cautioning against believing speculation before any official announcement.
As the war between Iran and the US entered the fourth week, some reports recently hinted at possible negotiations between the two sides in Pakistan. However, the White House has reportedly refused to confirm the development, cautioning against believing speculation before any official announcement.
News agency ANI said it reached out to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on whether top US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, would meet Iranian officials in Islamabad, as reported by some. In response, Leavitt reportedly said: “These are sensitive diplomatic discussions, and the US will not negotiate through the press. This is a fluid situation, and speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final until they are formally announced by the White House.”
What reports said on ‘talks’ in Pakistan
Leavitt’s remarks came after some publications cited officials as saying that talks on ending the Iran-US war that began last month could take place in Islamabad.
While Reuters quoted a Pakistani official and a second source, the Times of Israel quoted Channel 12 as it cited an unnamed Israeli official as saying that Iran and the US could convene for talks in Islamabad later this week. The Israeli publication said that apart from Vance, US Special Presidential Envoy for Peace Missions, Steve Witkoff and Businessman and former Senior Advisor to US President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, would represent the US, and Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf would head the delegation from Tehran.
Notably, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said he spoke with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, promising Islamabad’s help bringing peace to the region.