Vance is in the game though. A sudden change in the White House's decision regarding the mission in Islamabad

Vice President JD Vance will take part in negotiations with Iran in Islamabad, the White House told the media on Sunday, despite Trump's earlier words that Vance would not fly to Pakistan. An administration official told CNN that the situation has changed.

As a senior White House official told the media, Vance will head the US delegation alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The news came just after Trump said in telephone conversations with a number of media outlets that Vance would not fly to Islamabad “for security reasons.” He allegedly explained that the Secret Service could not ensure the vice president's safety with just 24 hours' notice.

In response to CNN's question about the U-turn, a White House official told the station that “things have changed.”

It is still not entirely clear when the second round of talks with Iran will begin. Trump announced that it would be Monday evening, but according to the New York Post, it will take place on Tuesday.

Vance was head of the U.S. delegation during the first round of talks in Islamabad last weekend, which ended in failure. According to CNN, Trump in recent days has been asking friends about their assessment of Vance's actions in his most important mission yet. This is important, among others: in the context of potential succession and speculations about his competition for Trump's legacy with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

When asked by “NYP” whether he was ready to go to Pakistan himself – which the president had already suggested – Trump replied that “maybe at a later date”, depending on the course of the talks. On Friday he said he would be willing to go to Pakistan to sign the agreement.

Iran has not yet confirmed that it will take part in negotiations that would end the war that has been ongoing since February 28. There is currently a two-week truce, which expires on the night from Tuesday to Wednesday.

Iran has not decided to send a delegation to the US negotiations

Iran has not yet decided to send a delegation to negotiations with the US in Pakistan because the US blockade of Iranian ports is still ongoing, Iranian state media reported on Sunday. An hour earlier, CNN reported that the Iranian delegation was to arrive in Pakistan on Tuesday.

CNN, citing Iranian sources familiar with the negotiations, reported that – similarly to the previous round of talks – the Iranian delegation is to include Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi and the Speaker of Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

According to the same sources, Iran expects a symbolic extension of the ceasefire to be announced on Wednesday. If the talks go smoothly and US President Donald Trump agrees to go to Islamabad, Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian would also come to Pakistan. A joint meeting and signing of the “Islamabad Declaration” could then take place.

The CNN reports have not been confirmed by either party.

(PAP)