President Donald Trump said Sunday that his Middle East envoy will head to Pakistan to restart negotiations aimed at ending the conflict with Iran, even as fresh violence in the Strait of Hormuz casts doubt on the stability of the current ceasefire.

Speaking by phone from the White House, Trump confirmed that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to depart Sunday night and arrive in Islamabad ahead of a new round of talks set for Tuesday. “Steve’s going to be going there tomorrow night,” Trump said.

Trump added that Jared Kushner will also participate in the discussions, drawing on his experience in past Middle East negotiations. Vice President JD Vance, who led an earlier phase of talks, will not be attending this round.

The diplomatic push comes after Iran opened fire on vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on Shabbos, despite earlier claims by Iranian officials that the strategic waterway had been reopened.

When told that Qatari officials were already in Islamabad and prepared to meet him if he chose to attend, Trump did not rule out the possibility of traveling there himself if progress is made. “I would say maybe at a little bit later date. We have to see how it works out tomorrow,” he said.

Pressed further on whether he might personally join the talks, Trump said he would wait to see how negotiations unfold, adding that he would “probably come at a later date.” The call ended abruptly as Trump noted that military officials were waiting to meet with him.

Just days earlier, Trump had described what he viewed as a breakthrough, declaring that the Strait of Hormuz was “COMPLETELY OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS AND FULL PASSAGE” and asserting that the United States would secure all of Iran’s remaining “nuclear dust.”

At the same time, he said the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place while both sides continue working toward a broader agreement.

Iranian leadership, however, has sent mixed signals. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi publicly stated that the strait was “completely opened” for commercial traffic, while Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf later contradicted that claim. Within a day, Iranian forces fired on multiple ships attempting to transit the chokepoint.

The conflicting statements and subsequent attacks have highlighted apparent divisions within Iran’s leadership as negotiations continue.

Reacting to the incident, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz — A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom. That wasn’t nice, was it?”

He continued, “They’re helping us without knowing, and they are the ones that lose with the closed passage, $500 Million Dollars a day!” Trump added of Iran. “The United States loses nothing. In fact, many Ships are headed, right now, to the U.S., Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska, to load up, compliments of the IRGC, always wanting to be ‘the tough guy!’”

“NO MORE MR. NICE GUY,” he added.

The current two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran is set to expire Wednesday unless both sides agree to extend it. Trump has suggested an extension may not be necessary, expressing confidence that a deal is within reach.

“It will happen. One way or another. The nice way or the hard way. It’s going to happen,” Trump said in an interview with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl.

He also warned in an interview with Fox News’ Trey Yingst that if Iran does not finalize an agreement, “the whole country is going to get blown up.”

Trump has repeatedly threatened to target infrastructure, including bridges and energy facilities, if Iran refuses to comply. A central U.S. demand remains that Iran surrender what is left of its nuclear program.

While the president has emphasized negotiations as his preferred path, he has also considered military options to seize nuclear materials if talks fail. He has said the U.S. is monitoring Iran’s nuclear sites via satellite and warned that American forces possess even more advanced capabilities than those used in the early stages of Operation Epic Fury.

{Matzav.com}