US Vice President JD Vance (R) speaks during a press conference as Jared Kushner (L) and Steve Witkoff look on in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 12, 2026 (Reuters)
EA on Pakistan TV: “Limbo” in Talks to End US War on Iran
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Tehran is holding out against talks with Donald Trump’s envoys over the Memorandum of Understanding to end the US War on Iran.
Real estate developer Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner arrived in Qatar’s capital Doha on Tuesday but the Iranians refused to see them. Each side met with Qatari mediators; however, no senior officials from Tehran were involved.
Iran initially said that the talks were sidelined by US attacks on its southern coast over the weekend, responding to Iranian drone strikes on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran is also raising questions over Israel’s military operations and occupation in southern Lebanon and the status of Iranian assets to be unfrozen under the Memorandum.
American officials told The Wall Street Journal that Trump has in recent days considered options for a return to full-scale war, but has decided to pursue the talks at this time.
They said he was given military options to “finish the job”, but he fears a renewed war could harm the prospects of a diplomatic resolution which includes the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program. He is willing to continue indirect negotiations in Qatar beyond the MoU’s 60-day deadline on August 18, they said.
US Vice President J.D. Vance, hoping to benefit politically from a deal with Iran, insisted on Fox TV that the Trump Administration is in a “great position” whatever happens with the talks. He proclaimed that Tehran’s nuclear program and military have been “destroyed”, and said the US military will respond to any Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait.
Vance also lied that oil traffic in the waterway has returned to its pre-war level.
