A White House official on Sunday clarified that US Vice President JD Vance will lead the American delegation for talks with Iran in Pakistan after President Donald Trump indicated Vance would not make the trip, citing security concerns.
Speaking to ABC News, Trump said, "It's only because of security… JD's great."
Earlier, UN Envoy to the United Nations Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright had indicated that Vance would head the negotiations starting Monday.
Who Will Lead The US Delegation?
Speaking to news agency AFP on the condition of anonymity, the White House official confirmed that the American delegation will include Vance, along with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The trio had also participated in the previous round of talks held on April 11-12 in Pakistan's Islamabad.
No Decision Yet On Sending Negotiators To Pakistan As Iran Demands End To Naval Blockade
According to Tasnim News Agency, Iran has not yet decided on sending negotiators to Islamabad for the upcoming talks with the United States. The Iranian negotiating team has underscored that as long as Trump's declaration regarding a naval blockade of Iran remains in effect, there will be no negotiations.
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Trump Warns Iran
Ahead of the peace talks in Pakistan, the US President issued a stern warning to Iran, stating, "Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz — A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French Ship and a Freighter from the United Kingdom. That wasn’t nice, was it? My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan — They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations. Iran recently announced that they were closing the Strait, which is strange, because our BLOCKADE has already closed it. They’re helping us without knowing, and they are the ones who lose with the closed passage, $500 Million Dollars a day! The United States loses nothing."
He further added, "In fact, many Ships are headed, right now, to the U.S., Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska, to load up, compliments of the IRGC, always wanting to be “the tough guy!" We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years. IT’S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!"
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