Vice President JD Vance was summoned back to the White House on Tuesday, scrapping plans to lead U.S. negotiations in Pakistan as uncertainty swirled over Iran’s willingness to participate in the talks.
Vance had been scheduled to travel to Islamabad to head the American negotiating team, but the departure was unexpectedly postponed. CNN’s Alayna Treene reported that the vice president remained at the White House for meetings instead of boarding his flight that morning.
“All we do know is that it is definitely delayed and that we should expect to see now the vice president at the White House for meetings today, not leaving this morning on that plane,” Treene said. Sources indicated uncertainty about whether the trip would occur at all.
The Nuclear Sticking Point
Vance indicated that Iran has not committed to refraining from pursuing nuclear weapons, the core demand of American negotiators. “The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement,” Vance said. “And I think that’s bad news for Iran, much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized the negotiations on social media, writing that American understanding of Iran’s position was “even lower than Trump’s level of understanding.” Pakistani officials said they awaited formal confirmation from Iran about whether its delegation would attend the Islamabad talks.
Escalating Pressure
The U.S. has implemented a blockade of Iranian ports, with U.S. Central Command reporting that American forces ordered 28 ships to reverse course or return to port on Tuesday. A two-week ceasefire between the U.S., Israel, and Iran is set to expire Wednesday.
President Trump signaled he does not intend to extend the ceasefire, instead pursuing a permanent agreement. “We don’t have that much time,” Trump told CNBC. “Iran can get themselves on a very good footing if they make a deal.”
Diplomatic Efforts Continue
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker met with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday to discuss ongoing diplomatic efforts. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that mediators remained in “constant touch” with Iranian representatives and described the negotiations as “critical.”
Dar “underscored Pakistan’s consistent emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable means to address challenges and achieve lasting regional peace and stability,” the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said.
