Trump sends son-in-law to negotiate with Iran, JD Vance not included
Updated . First published at
Donald Trump has sent his son-in-law to lead negotiations with an Iranian delegation in Pakistan.
The peace talks will be led by Jared Kushner as well as Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.
JD Vance, who led the US delegation last time, has not been included.
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Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will lead peace talks while JD Vance will stay in the US. AP
The meetings will take place in Islamabad, where the last talks were also held.
"The Iranians want to talk," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
"They want to talk in person, and so the president is, as I've said many, many times to all of you, always willing to give diplomacy a chance."
She said Vance "is on standby and will be willing to dispatch to Pakistan if we feel it's a necessary use of his time".
Also not participating is Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rubio was criticised during the last round of talks when he and Trump attended a UFC event in Florida when negotiations broke down.
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Donald Trump has sent his son-in-law to lead Iran peace talks. AP
"Everyone will be on standby to fly to Pakistan if necessary," Leavitt said.
"But first, Steve and Jared will be going over there to report back to the president, the vice president, and the rest of the team."
The last negotiations led by Vance broke down after less than a day.
Kushner and Witkoff are expected to leave for Pakistan today.
The two were leading negotiations with Iran when the US and Israel started the war on February 28 this year.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is already in Islamabad for a meeting with Pakistani officials.
Soon after the White House's announcement, Iran's Ministry for Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei denied the reports.
"No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US," he said.
"Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan."
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JD Vance will be staying in America as the peace talks take place. AP
Both Witkoff and Kushner have extensive business ties to the Middle East.
Though neither of them had any background in foreign affairs before Trump took office, they have both been prominent in the administration.
Not everybody in the US is on board with peace talks.
Republican Senator Roger Wicker, who leads the Senate Armed Services Committee, called for an end to the ceasefire.
"The time is over for negotiations with Iran's regime," he said.
"The radical successors of Khamenei can never be trusted to keep any promise or agreement. Our Commander-in-Chief should direct his skilled military leaders to finish destroying Iran's conventional military capabilities and eliminating any last remnants of their nuclear program."
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