Iran-Israel war LIVE: Vance will lead U.S. team to Iran talks in Pakistan, says White House

A White House official told AFP that JD Vance will lead the US delegation for the talks with Iran in Pakistan. The delegation will also include special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, clarifying the makeup of the delegation after Trump's comments.

A report states that President Donald Trump indicated JD Vance would not make the trip to Pakistan for talks with Iran, a development referenced in the article as a precursor to the subsequent announcement.

The article, published on April 19, 2026, raises a question about Putin's nuclear move and asks whether Pakistan is simply the venue while Russia gains Uranium, with Iran mentioned as part of the context.

The article reports that President Donald Trump said U.S. negotiators will travel to Pakistan on Monday, April 20, 2026, to hold talks with Iran. It notes this could extend a ceasefire set to expire that week, as Washington and Tehran remain at odds over the Strait of Hormuz. The report also describes ongoing disruptions to shipping through the Strait, with ships unable to transit due to threats from Iran and a U.S. blockade on ships heading to and from Iranian ports.

Trump said that U.S. negotiators would be in Pakistan on Monday to resume talks on ending the war with Iran, following face-to-face discussions in Islamabad the previous week.

President Trump posted on Truth Social that U.S. negotiators were heading to Islamabad for Iran talks, warning of severe actions if a deal is not reached.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports as a violation of the ceasefire, calling it unlawful and criminal and accusing it of collective punishment and potential war crimes.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military was instructed to use full force to protect Israeli communities, and to remove houses in frontline villages near the border viewed as Hezbollah outposts.

Pakistan stepped up security in Islamabad ahead of U.S.-Iran peace talks, including road closures and increased police presence.

The Israeli military published for the first time a map of its new deployment line inside Lebanon, showing a 5-10 km deep buffer zone as part of intensified action following the ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Earlier in the day, U.S. envoy to the United Nations Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright indicated that Vance would lead the round of negotiations in Islamabad from Monday, April 20.

President Donald Trump told ABC News that Vance would not lead the talks in Pakistan because of security concerns, saying 'JD’s great.'

A White House official told AFP that Vice President J.D. Vance would lead the U.S. delegation for talks with Iran in Islamabad, joined by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner; this followed President Trump’s indication that Vance might not travel.

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that Iran had not decided whether to send a negotiating delegation to Pakistan as long as there is a naval blockade.

The last batch of Indians, including diplomats' families and students, returned to India over the weekend. The group traveled mainly via the Azerbaijan border (Astara) and some via the Armenian border to Yerevan, coordinated by the Indian embassy in Tehran and the Iranian government during the two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire announced on April 8.

Indian-flagged crude oil tanker Desh Garima crossed the Strait of Hormuz and was expected to reach Mumbai on April 22. In the preceding 24 hours, two Indian vessels, Samnar Herad and Jag Arnav, reported firing incidents while transiting the strait and returned to the Persian Gulf; no injuries were reported.

Israel and Lebanon agreed to a U.S.-backed ceasefire after talks on April 14, aimed at enabling broader U.S.-Iran negotiations, while Israeli forces would maintain positions deep in southern Lebanon.

In March 2026, India's crude oil imports declined 17% year-on-year, with crude import expenditures down 4.9%. The net import bill remained near $11 billion.