Published fact-check

Claim that Trump is sending Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan for Iran talks

Supported

Claim checked

“Scoop: Trump is sending his special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan to participate in talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, two administration officials tell CNN. VP JD Vance is not currently planning to attend given Iran's Speaker of the”

Published

Verdict

Supported

Reports that President Donald Trump is sending special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan for diplomatic talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are supported by official White House statements.

  • Mission Details: Witkoff and Kushner are scheduled to depart for Islamabad on Saturday, April 25, 2026, to engage in direct talks mediated by Pakistan.
  • Iranian Participation: The meeting will involve Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi; the White House indicated the Iranian delegation requested the in-person conversation.
  • VP Status: Vice President JD Vance is not currently traveling with the delegation but remains on standby to join the talks if significant progress is made.

3 reviewed sources behind this verdict.

Reasoning

The claim was confirmed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in an interview on April 24, 2026. She stated that Witkoff and Kushner would be leaving for Pakistan the following morning. CNN reporting from the same day corroborated that the mission's goal is to participate in talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The evidence also clarifies the status of Vice President JD Vance, noting that while he is not part of the initial traveling party, he is prepared to fly to Islamabad if the negotiations show signs of advancement.

Source quality: The report is based on live updates from CNN which include direct quotes from the White House Press Secretary confirming the specific individuals, the timing, and the location of the talks.

Key checks

  • Deployment of Witkoff and Kushner: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to depart for Pakistan on Saturday morning for direct talks.

  • Status of Vice President JD Vance: Official administration statements indicate that VP JD Vance is not currently planning to attend the initial talks but is on standby to travel if progress is made.

Confidence

High