Witkoff & Kushner in Islamabad: Iran Talks

0:00It's April 24th. This is U.S. News Today, driven by AI tracking America in real-time. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Wittkopf and White House advisor Jared Kushner are heading to Islamabad, Pakistan, tomorrow for face-to-face talks with Iran. Tehran reached out first, pushing for these in-person meetings after a recent breakdown in diplomacy. This comes amid a fragile two-week ceasefire that President Trump extended just before it expired on Wednesday. Tehran talks on April 11th in the same city fell apart when the U.S. delegation, led by Vice President J.D. Vance, couldn't get affirmed no nukes, pledged from Iran. That round followed U.S. Israeli strikes on February 28th, targeting Tehran's leadership and military sites. Trump has kept the door open for deals, avoiding more strikes for now. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt says the President always gives diplomacy a shot, and Vance is ready to jump in if needed. Trump himself told reporters, Iran is floating and offered to meet U.S. demands.

1:01Meanwhile, Pakistan steps up again as the neutral spot, with Iran's foreign minister Abbas Arakchi likely on their team. Iran's state media denies begging for these talks, claiming they've rejected U.S. asks as too demanding. Reports also say hardliner Mohammed Bagger Ghalibov quit as their top negotiator over nuclear stance fights, stirring up internal chaos. Journalists see this as Tehran, buying time amid pressure, but with the siege tightening, Arakchi's move might signal real shifts. We'll watch if Wiccoff and Kushner break through, or if tensions flare back up.