Trump Dispatches Vice President Vance to Pakistan for High-Stakes Iran Negotiations
President Donald Trump extended his best wishes to Vice President JD Vance as he embarked on a crucial diplomatic mission to Islamabad, Pakistan, aiming to initiate peace talks between the United States and Iran. The President made these remarks on Friday as Vance departed alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner, with the objective of securing a permanent resolution to the conflict that erupted on February 28.
"I wished him luck. He's got a big thing. We'll find out what's going on. They're militarily defeated," Trump stated while boarding Air Force One. He emphasized his administration's stance on maintaining open access to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global trade route.
Strait of Hormuz: A Flashpoint in US-Iran Relations
Trump firmly declared that the United States would not permit Iran to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as international waters. "If they're doing that, nobody knows if they're doing that, but if they're doing that, we're not going to let that happen," he asserted. Despite a temporary ceasefire earlier in the week allowing limited traffic, the President predicted the strait would "open up automatically" due to economic pressures.
"The strait will open up. If we just left the strait, otherwise they make no money. So the strait is going to open," Trump explained, noting that while the US does not heavily rely on this route, other nations would assist in ensuring its accessibility. He acknowledged the challenges ahead, saying, "It won't be easy. It won't be, I would say this, we will have that open fairly soon."
Data from Athens-based Marine Traffic revealed that only 14 vessels, half of which were laden, had crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the ceasefire was declared on April 8. Vessels exiting the Persian Gulf constituted 70 percent of all crossings, with nearly two-thirds linked to sanctioned or shadow fleets. Prior to the conflict, over 100 ships traversed the strait daily, many transporting oil to Asian markets.
Vance's Diplomatic Mission and Pre-Departure Remarks
Speaking from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland before his departure, Vice President Vance outlined his approach to the negotiations. "If they're gonna try to play us they're gonna find the negotiating team is not going to be that receptive. The president gave us some pretty clear guidelines," he told reporters. Vance, known for his skepticism toward foreign military interventions, expressed willingness to engage if Iran acts in good faith.
"If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," Vance remarked. However, he cautioned, "If they're gonna try and play us, then they're gonna find that the negotiating team is not that receptive." His comments came as a fragile temporary ceasefire teetered on the brink of collapse, with significant disparities between Iranian demands and those of the US and its ally Israel.
Iranian Delegation Arrives in Islamabad with Preconditions
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, part of the negotiation delegation, set preconditions via social media, insisting on a ceasefire in Lebanon—where Israel targets Iran-backed Hezbollah militants—and the release of blocked Iranian assets before talks could commence. Qalibaf did not provide further details but arrived in Islamabad later on Friday ahead of Vance.
The Iranian team, scheduled to begin discussions on Saturday, includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Ali Akbar Ahmadian (secretary of the Supreme National Defense Council), Central Bank Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati, and several lawmakers. Upon arrival, they were greeted at the airport by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other senior officials, highlighting the regional significance of these talks.
Trump expressed confidence in the delegation he dispatched, stating, "We'll see how it turns out. So it's JD and Steve and Jared. We have a good team, and they meet tomorrow. We'll see how it all works out." He reiterated that while the negotiations would be tense, he believed his team could achieve a breakthrough, emphasizing the urgency given growing political and economic pressures in the US to resolve the conflict.
