White House Calls Reports of Iran-US Officials Meeting in Pakistan 'Speculative'

Press Secretary says nothing concrete can be said about potential high-level diplomatic talks at this time.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 7:01am

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The White House has dismissed as speculative the reports claiming that US Vice President JD Vance, US Special Presidential Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff, and former Senior Advisor to the President Jared Kushner will meet with Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the US will not negotiate through the press and that any such meetings would not be considered final until formally announced by the White House.

Why it matters

The potential for high-level diplomatic talks between the US and Iran is significant, as it could signal a shift in the tense relationship between the two countries. However, the White House's dismissal of the reports as speculative suggests that no concrete plans have been made, at least publicly.

The details

According to the report, an unnamed Israeli official stated that mediating countries are trying to convene a meeting in Islamabad between the US and Iran, possibly as soon as this week. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the US will not negotiate through the press and that any such meetings would not be considered final until formally announced by the White House.

  • The reports of a potential US-Iran meeting in Pakistan surfaced on March 24, 2026.

The players

Karoline Leavitt

The White House Press Secretary who dismissed the reports of a US-Iran meeting in Pakistan as speculative.

JD Vance

The US Vice President who was reportedly set to meet with Iranian officials in Islamabad, according to the speculative reports.

Steve Witkoff

The US Special Presidential Envoy for Peace Missions who was reportedly set to meet with Iranian officials in Islamabad, according to the speculative reports.

Jared Kushner

The businessman and former Senior Advisor to the President of the United States who was reportedly set to meet with Iranian officials in Islamabad, according to the speculative reports.

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What they’re saying

“These are sensitive diplomatic discussions, and the US will not negotiate through the press. This is a fluid situation, and speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final until they are formally announced by the White House.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary

“President Trump is going to resolve it, and I'm very confident that as dealmaker-in-chief, he's going to come out of this with a winning deal for Americans.”

— Doug Burgum, US Interior Secretary

“We've been completely aware of this thing.”

— Doug Burgum, US Interior Secretary

What’s next

The White House has not announced any definite plans for a meeting between US and Iranian officials. The situation remains fluid, and any potential talks would need to be formally announced by the White House before being considered final.

The takeaway

The White House's dismissal of the reports as speculative highlights the sensitivity of diplomatic discussions between the US and Iran. While the potential for high-level talks is significant, the administration appears cautious about negotiating through the press and is waiting to formally announce any such meetings.