Iran says no meeting with U.S. negotiators planned in Pakistan, with Trump envoys due to head to Islamabad

iran says no meeting is planned with u.s. negotiators in pakistan, even as trump envoys steve witkoff and jared kushner head to islamabad on saturday morning. iranian foreign ministry spokesperson esmaeil baqaei posted on x that "no meeting is planned to take place between iran and the u.s." and that iran's observations would be conveyed to pakistan instead. white house press secretary karoline leavitt confirmed the trip, saying "the iranians reached out" and asked for an in-person conversation. she said the u.s. is "hopeful that it will be a productive conversation." vp jd vance, who led the first round in islamabad two weeks ago, will not attend. that round ended with no deal. trump told reuters iran will be "making an offer" but he didn't know what it would be. the talks will be "intermediated by the pakistanis," leavitt said. meanwhile, treasury secretary scott bessent said the u.s. will not renew a waiver allowing iranian oil purchases at sea, adding "we think in the next two, three days, they're going to have to start shuttering production." the u.s. also sanctioned chinese teapot refinery hengli petrochemical for buying billions of dollars of iranian oil.