The first round of talks with Iran will be held in Pakistan on Saturday

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that the first round of peace talks between the US and Iran would be held on Saturday in Pakistan, with Vice President JD Vance leading the US delegation. She also noted that Iran agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Leavitt announced during a press briefing that Vance, as well as special peacekeeping envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will travel to Pakistan on Friday. She emphasized that Vance – known for his anti-interventionist views – played a leading role in the talks from the beginning.

The spokeswoman criticized the media for presenting Iran's 10-point “wish list” – published by Iran's Supreme National Security Council – as something the US had adopted as the basis for further negotiations. She noted that Iran's original 10-point proposal was “ridiculous” and the president threw it in the trash. Later, Iran was to send an improved and “more reasonable” proposal, also consisting of 10 points, which Trump considered as a starting point for further talks. She did not reveal any details. She emphasized that the US “red lines” remain unchanged, which include ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon and stops enriching uranium. According to Leavitt, Iran also made it clear that it would hand over its stocks of enriched uranium.

Leavitt also referred to the issue of opening the Strait of Hormuz, which is blocked by Iran. Despite the authorities in Tehran announcing that the transit through the strait would be coordinated with the Iranian military, the spokeswoman said that Iran had agreed to open it. She claimed that Iran says one thing publicly and another thing behind the scenes. She also announced that Trump would ensure Iran's compliance with these arrangements.

When asked how the demand for the “free, safe and immediate opening” of the strait relates to Trump's statement about the possible charging of transit fees by the US and Iran, Leavitt noted that this was only an “idea put forward by the president” that was not ultimately adopted.

She also defended Trump's threat on Tuesday that “the entire civilization (of Iran – PAP) will die overnight and will never be reborn,” noting that the president's rhetoric has brought results.

– I think it was the very, very serious threat from the president that prompted the Iranian regime to kneel and ask for a ceasefire. It wasn't an empty threat, she said.

The spokeswoman also confirmed Trump's earlier statements that the truce does not apply to Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to the Iranian authorities, these attacks constitute a violation of the ceasefire provisions.

Asked about reports that China's intervention contributed to the breakthrough in the ceasefire with Iran, Leavitt admitted that there had recently been talks at the “highest level” between the governments in Washington and Beijing.

From Washington Oskar Górzyński (PAP)

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