US sending ​Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff to Pakistan for Iran talks

US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law ​Jared Kushner will travel to Islamabad on Saturday morning ‌for talks with Iran mediated by Pakistan, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Friday.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Leavitt ​said the Trump administration has seen "some progress" from the ​Iranian side in the last couple of days, without ⁠elaborating.

"Steve and Jared will be heading to Pakistan tomorrow ​to hear the Iranians out. We hope progress will be ​made and we hope that positive developments will come from this meeting," she told reporters.

Reuters reported earlier that Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi ​was expected in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Friday ​to discuss proposals for restarting peace talks with the US.

Leavitt said Vice ‌President ⁠JD Vance, who led a first round of unsuccessful talks with Iran in Islamabad earlier this month, is ready to travel to Pakistan to join talks if they prove successful.

"The ​president, the vice ​president, the ⁠secretary of state, will be waiting here in the United States for updates and the vice ​president, I understand, is on standby and ​will be ⁠willing to dispatch to Pakistan if we feel it's a necessary use of his time," Leavitt said.

Trump unilaterally extended a ⁠two-week ceasefire ​with Iran on Tuesday at the ​11th hour to allow more time for negotiations to end the war.—Reuters