President Donald Trump is sending envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in an effort to advance US-Iran ceasefire negotiations.
- Diplomatic Push: U.S. envoys will meet with Iran’s top diplomat in Pakistan to seek a productive deal.
- Energy Stability: The Jones Act waiver has been extended by 90 days to ease oil and gas shipments to the U.S.
- Military Presence: The U.S. is maintaining a blockade on Iranian ports with three aircraft carriers currently in the region and a fourth expected shortly.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the envoys are scheduled to meet with Araghchi on Saturday. Leavitt expressed hope that the conversation would “move the ball forward to a deal.”
While Vice President JD Vance is not traveling, Leavitt noted he remains “deeply involved.” Vance, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the national security team, remains on standby in the U.S. to fly to Pakistan if necessary.
The diplomatic outreach follows efforts by Islamabad to reinject momentum into negotiations that had failed to resume this week as expected. Araghchi confirmed via social media that he is visiting Pakistan, Oman, and Russia to discuss regional developments and bilateral matters.
Energy Impact and US-Iran Ceasefire Negotiations
In a separate move to stabilize energy prices, the White House announced a 90-day extension to the Jones Act waiver. This measure allows non-American vessels to transport oil and natural gas to the U.S. more easily.
The extension follows an initial 60-day waiver issued in March after the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The White House reported that data shows the waiver has allowed more supply to reach U.S. ports faster.
International Brent crude oil prices fluctuated between $103 and $107 a barrel following the news. Prices remain approximately 50% higher than they were on Feb. 28, the date the war began.
Military Escalation in the Strait of Hormuz
Tensions remain high in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway for 20% of global oil and gas shipments. Iran continues to restrict traffic and attacked three ships earlier this week.
The U.S. is maintaining a blockade on Iranian ports, and President Trump has ordered the military to “shoot and kill” small boats suspected of placing mines. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that a second U.S. aircraft carrier will join the blockade in the coming days.
Currently, the U.S. has three carriers in the region: the USS George H.W. Bush in the Indian Ocean, the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, and the USS Gerald R. Ford in the Red Sea. This deployment includes 15,000 sailors and Marines and 200 aircraft.
Casualties and Lebanon Truce
The conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life. Authorities report at least 3,375 deaths in Iran and more than 2,490 in Lebanon. Additionally, 23 people have died in Israel and over a dozen in Gulf Arab states.
Military casualties include 15 Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, 13 U.S. service members across the region, and six UNIFIL peacekeepers, including four Indonesians and two French nationals.
In Lebanon, Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to extend a ceasefire by three weeks, though Hezbollah has not participated in the Washington-brokered diplomacy. Despite the extension, clashes continue, with both sides reporting the downing of drones and the launch of missiles near the southern port city of Tyre and the village of Deir Aames.
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