rki.news | Sources: International Media Reports

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to travel to Pakistan on Saturday for fresh diplomatic discussions related to Iran, according to the White House. The move comes amid ongoing uncertainty over the status and structure of negotiations involving Tehran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Islamabad, although Iranian semi-official media has denied any confirmed direct meeting with US officials.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Washington has observed “some progress” in diplomatic engagement with Iran, adding that “everyone will be on standby to fly to Pakistan if necessary,” indicating a fluid and rapidly evolving negotiation framework.

Separately, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in a Pentagon briefing, criticised European allies over regional maritime tensions, stating that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is “much more their fight than ours,” reflecting divisions in burden-sharing among Western partners.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel will continue operations against “any threat” in Lebanon despite a recently extended three-week ceasefire. He accused Iran-backed Hezbollah of attempting to undermine peace efforts through continued destabilising activity.

Diplomatic observers say Pakistan’s emerging role as a neutral engagement point highlights shifting regional mediation dynamics, although officials caution that outcomes remain uncertain as competing narratives persist across Washington, Tehran, and regional capitals.