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Vice President JD Vance will head the U.S. delegation to Pakistan for critical negotiations with Iran, according to a White House announcement on Sunday.
The confirmation followed a period of uncertainty after President Donald Trump initially suggested the vice president would skip the trip due to security concerns.
Vance is set to be joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who will reprise the team that led the previous round of discussions in Islamabad earlier this month.
The stakes for this meeting are exceptionally high, as a fragile two-week ceasefire in the Middle East is scheduled to expire this Wednesday.
Tensions surged over the weekend after President Trump accused Tehran of a “total violation” of the truce following military activity in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a stern warning posted to social media, the president threatened the destruction of Iran’s power plants and bridges if a “reasonable deal” is not reached during this final push for peace.
The situation on the ground remains volatile, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz closed to shipping after reports of Iranian forces firing at a tanker and threatening other vessels.
Despite the escalating rhetoric and maritime stand-off, U.S. officials expressed hope that the upcoming talks would yield a significant breakthrough.
Negotiators are racing against the clock to secure a lasting agreement before the ceasefire concludes and the conflict risks further escalation.
