Amid ongoing efforts to calm conflict in the Middle East, US Vice President J.D. Vance may travel to Pakistan later this week for talks aimed at finding a way out of the war with Iran, according to a CNN report citing administration officials.The proposed visit comes as the Trump administration explores back-channel diplomacy with Tehran, with Pakistan and Turkey emerging as potential venues for discussions. Officials told CNN that preparations are underway for a potential meeting involving Vance and other senior US representatives, although the timing, location and participants remain undetermined.
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This development comes in the wake of indications that Iranian representatives are reluctant to deal with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and may prefer to negotiate through Vance.
US President Donald Trump said earlier that Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Kushner and Witkoff are all participating in the ongoing diplomatic efforts.However, the White House downplayed suggestions that Vance’s role represented any shift in strategy. “I don’t think anything has changed. The vice president has always been a key member, the president’s right-hand man, a key member of the president’s national security team,” press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said.
“He was part of these discussions throughout the entire administration.”She added that President Trump seeks Vance’s advice “on all matters, both foreign and domestic.”Levitt refused to reveal details about the Iranian counterparts participating in the talks, saying: “We will not go into the details of these negotiations and talks that are still taking place. As you can imagine of course, these are very sensitive diplomatic discussions.” She stressed that discussions are continuing even as the United States maintains military pressure, warning that if “Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment,” Trump is “ready to unleash hell.”Pakistan has expressed its willingness to facilitate the talks. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad was ready to support “meaningful and decisive talks”, with reports suggesting the country was positioning itself as a venue for negotiations.
A Guardian newspaper report quoted Pakistani officials as saying that the meeting could take place as early as this week.At the same time, she urged regional actors to be cautious. According to CNN, the Gulf allies have privately warned the United States against escalating the conflict further, especially against any move to deploy ground forces or seize strategic sites such as Kharg Island, citing the risks of broader retaliation and prolonging instability.These diplomatic efforts come alongside a continuing military buildup, with reports that about 1,000 US soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division could be deployed to the region. With the diplomatic and military tracks moving forward simultaneously, the prospects for the talks remain uncertain as the conflict continues unabated in its fourth week.
