US negotiators are scheduled to leave for Pakistan today, but Iran said its officials did not plan to meet the Americans to discuss ending the war that has killed thousands and ‌roiled global markets. US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are due to depart for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, the White House said. Talking to reporters, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the development, stating that talks would be conducted directly. She added that Vice President JD Vance would remain engaged from Washington, coordinating with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the national security team.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that Iran had a chance to make a “good deal” with the United States. He said that Iran knows that they still have an open window to choose wisely. He said all they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon in meaningful and verifiable ways.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is meeting Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir in Islamabad. Araghchi arrived in Pakistan late last night with a senior delegation, signalling renewed diplomatic efforts to revive stalled negotiations between Tehran and Washington to end the war in West Asia.

Araghchi said that after his meetings in Pakistan, he will travel to Oman and Russia. The aim, he said in a post on social media, is to coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments.