Trump Envoys Rush to Pakistan for Iran Ceasefire Talks as Deadline Looms

US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are traveling to Islamabad for urgent talks with Iran ahead of a two-week ceasefire's expiration. President Donald Trump confirmed the mission while issuing stark threats to destroy Iran's power plants and bridges if a deal is not signed. The negotiations are stalled over issues concerning the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear capabilities. Trump also accused Iran of violating the current truce by firing shots in the strategic waterway.

Key Points: US Envoys to Pakistan for Iran Talks as Trump Issues Threats

  • Ceasefire deadline April 22
  • Talks over Hormuz & nuclear program
  • Trump threatens Iranian infrastructure
  • First round ended in gridlock
  • Iran accused of ceasefire violation
4 min read

US negotiators Witkoff, Kushner to travel to Pakistan for ceasefire talks with Iran: US media outlets

Trump sends Kushner and Witkoff to Islamabad for Iran ceasefire talks, threatening to destroy infrastructure if a deal isn't signed before the truce expires.

"If the deal isn't done... then I'm going to take out their bridges and their power plants. - Donald Trump"

Washington DC, April 19

Ahead of the expiry on Tuesday of the two-week ceasefire declared by US President Donald Trump in the conflict with Iran, US media outlets reported on Sunday that negotiators Steve Witkoff, special envoy for peace missions and Jared Kushner will head to Islamabad for talks with Iran.

President Trump's Middle East envoy is headed to Pakistan this week to restart negotiations to end the Iran War, the US commander-in-chief told The New York Post.

"Steve's going to be going there tomorrow night," Trump said in a phone call on Sunday from the White House to the New York Post, confirming that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will land in Islamabad on Monday night ahead of a second round of peace talks, according to the New York Post. The president added that Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, will also be involved with the talks scheduled for Tuesday.

In an interview with Fox News's Trey Yingst today, Trump said there is an ongoing fight between "moderates" and "crazies" in Iran amid negotiations with the US while confirming that Kushner and Witkoff were departing for Islamabad for talks.

"If the deal isn't done, the deal that we made, then I'm going to take out their bridges and their power plants," Trump said. "If they don't sign this thing, the whole country is going to get blown up." Fox News cited Trump as saying.

"We're preparing to hit them harder than any country has ever been hit before because you cannot let them have a nuclear weapon," the US President continued as per the US broadcaster. Trump went on to say that Iran has "agreed to much" of the deal already.

Meanwhile, in a post on Truth Social today, he warned of severe repercussions, including an attack on Iranian energy and civil infrastructure, if Iran "doesn't take the deal."

"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."

On the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, he claimed that it was Iran on the losing end with the closure causing a loss of USD 500 million per day to the country while claiming that the "United States loses nothing".

He reiterated the assertion of a fair deal on the table for Iran and said that he would no longer remain a "nice guy" and that the US would strike Iran's power plants and bridges.

"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 that lose with the closed passage, $500 Million Dollars a day! The United States loses nothing. 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!", Trump said.

The two-week ceasefire is set to end on April 22. CNN reported that Iran has not immediately confirmed the plans.The first round of ceasefire negotiations ended in a gridlock between Tehran and Washington over the energy artery- Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear capacities.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
"No more Mr. Nice Guy"? This sounds like a dialogue from a bad movie, not statecraft. The whole world watches when superpowers talk like this. It creates fear, not peace. As an Indian, I just hope any conflict stays far away from our borders and shipping lanes. 🙏
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Aman W
The Strait of Hormuz is crucial for global oil supply, including ours. Any prolonged blockade will shoot up prices and hurt our economy badly. Hope they resolve this quickly. The US claiming they "lose nothing" is naive—a global recession hurts everyone.
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Sarah B
Sending Kushner again? His track record in the Middle East is mixed. While I understand the need for talks, the approach seems erratic. Threatening to destroy a country's infrastructure is not a negotiation tactic; it's coercion. This sets a dangerous precedent.
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Vikram M
From an Indian strategic perspective, a stable West Asia is vital. We have deep ties with the Gulf nations and a large diaspora there. Conflict in Iran spills over. Hope our diplomats are closely monitoring this. Pakistan hosting talks is ironic, given their own tensions.
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Karthik V
The article reads like a thriller! But the real-life consequences are no joke. Trump's language is all about "winning" and "losing," but in a war, especially near our neighbourhood, there are no winners, only survivors. Hope cooler heads prevail in Islamabad.

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