Washington, April 20 (IANS) Uncertainty deepened over a fresh round of US-Iran peace talks on Monday after Washington seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, prompting Tehran to signal it may not attend negotiations planned in Pakistan. US President Donald Trump said American negotiators would travel to Islamabad for talks this week. But Iranian officials sent conflicting signals, with state media suggesting Tehran could skip the discussions, citing Washington’s “excessive demands”, accordin…
Latest Steve Witkoff News & Updates
New York, April 20 (IANS) There was confusion over US Vice President J.D. Vance travelling to Pakistan to lead the US in talks with Iran, after President Donald Trump ruled it out on Sunday citing security concerns, while the White House said he would attend.Trump told two television programmes that Vance would not be going to Islamabad for the second round of direct negotiations that he said would take place next week.But both CNN and The New York Times reported soon afterwards that, according …
New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) Foreign Affairs expert and veteran journalist Waiel Awwad said on Sunday that the talks between Iran and US that were held amid the two-week ceasefire agreement between the two countries, have not “failed”. Rather, he called the negotiation “inconclusive”.His reaction comes following US Vice-President JD Vance’s announcement that no agreement was reached between Washington and Tehran in the latest round of talks held in Pakistan’s Islamabad.Speaking to IANS, Awwad said…
Washington, April 12 (IANS) The United States is engaged in high-level, face-to-face trilateral talks with Pakistan and Iran in Islamabad, even as President Donald Trump asserted that Washington had already secured a strategic victory regardless of the outcome.The meeting in Islamabad stretched over for “15 hours and counting!” according to a senior White House official when last reported several hours ago.The official said the talks involve a core US delegation led by Vice President JD Vanc…
New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) Former High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, Veena Sikri, said on Saturday that Iran had urged the US Vice-President (V-P) J.D. Vance to join the peace talks currently underway in Pakistan’s Islamabad, because of his anti-war approach. She also called Pakistan’s role in facilitation of the talks as “choreographed” by the US.Speaking to IANS, Sikri said, “It is known that a few days ago, US President Donald Trump announced that he would ‘obliterate Iran’, and the ce…
New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, on Saturday said that another 312 Indian fishermen were safely evacuated from Iran to India through Armenia. He further thanked the government of Armenia for making it possible. EAM S. Jaishankar took to social media ‘X’ and said, “Another 312 Indian fishermen safely evacuated from Iran to India through Armenia. Thank the Government of Armenia and my friend Ararat Mirzoyan for making it possible.”Earlier on April 5, a total of …
Washington, April 9 (IANS) US Vice President J D Vance is headed back home from Hungary before he flies to Islamabad, leading a high-level American delegation for talks with Iran this weekend, as Washington moves to consolidate a fragile ceasefire following weeks of military escalation.The White House on Wednesday said the negotiating team will include Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, signalling the administration’s push for a structured diplomatic track after what it described a…
Washington, April 9 (IANS) The White House used Pakistan as a primary channel to reach Iran on a temporary ceasefire, underscoring Islamabad’s pivotal yet contested role in sensitive back-channel diplomacy, the Financial Times, London, reported.For weeks, the Trump administration leaned on Islamabad to persuade Tehran to accept a pause in fighting tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan’s positioning as a Muslim-majority neighbour was seen as key to making the US-backed proposal mor…
Jerusalem, April 6 (IANS) US President Donald Trump told Israeli media that the United States is engaged in “deep” negotiations with Iran to secure a ceasefire, while stressing that Washington will not “leave in the middle” of the conflict.Trump said his administration is maintaining contacts with Iran through multiple channels, led by his advisors Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Xinhua news agency reported.According to sources briefed on the talks, communication is being conducted through two …
Washington, March 26 (IANS) US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Iran is “begging to make a deal” after weeks of sustained American military strikes that he claimed have crippled Tehran’s military capabilities.Speaking at a White House Cabinet meeting, Trump asserted that US operations under “Operation Epic Fury” had “obliterated” Iran’s military infrastructure, including its navy, air force and missile systems.“They are begging to make a deal, not me,” Trump said,…