U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he responds to a question from a reporter while giving a briefing on Iran at the White House on the 6th (local time). EPA Yonhap News

The White House said on the 8th (local time) that end-of-war talks between the United States and Iran will begin on the 11th (local time) in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The AP reported the same day that the White House said Vice President JD Vance will lead the U.S. negotiating team at the talks scheduled to begin on the 11th in Islamabad.

At a briefing that day, White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said, “I can announce that President (Donald Trump) will dispatch to Islamabad a negotiating team led by Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and (the eldest son-in-law) Jared Kushner.” Leavitt added, “The first meeting will be held on Saturday (the 11th) morning local time, and we expect an in-person meeting.”

Regarding Vice President Vance leading the delegation, Leavitt explained, “Vice President Vance has played a very important and central role in this matter from the beginning,” and added, “Of course, he is the President's right-hand man and the U.S. Vice President. He has been involved in all discussions.”

On reports by Iran's state media that, citing Israel's attack on Lebanon as a violation of the two-week ceasefire agreement, Iran had again closed the Strait of Hormuz, Leavitt said it was “unacceptable.” She said, “That is different from what they say publicly,” adding, “Privately, we confirmed today that the number of vessels transiting the strait increased.”

On the idea of the United States and Iran jointly collecting tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, Leavitt said it was “an idea proposed by the President and something that will continue to be discussed over the next two weeks,” while emphasizing, “But the President's immediate top priority is reopening the strait with no restrictions whatsoever, regardless of tolls or anything else.” Asked whether Iran had indicated a willingness to hand over enriched uranium to the United States, Leavitt replied, “Yes.”

Leavitt also said, “This (the uranium issue) is the top priority for the President and the negotiating team,” adding, “This is a red line on which the President will never back down, and he has promised to make it happen.”