U.S. envoys close to President Trump have flown to Pakistan for follow-up diplomacy with Iranian representatives, a sign of renewed effort to press for a settlement even as regional tensions persist. The trip comes as a 16-day ceasefire remains in effect, but broader hostilities around the Gulf have continued.
Iran’s foreign minister has already arrived in Pakistan ahead of planned face-to-face meetings. The White House dispatched Jared Kushner and long-time associate Steve Witkoff to hear the Iranian side directly; Vice President J.D. Vance, who took part in the prior round of talks, is on standby should discussions advance.
Officials stress the trip is aimed at listening and exploring possibilities rather than promising immediate breakthroughs. A White House statement said the envoys’ mission is to “hear the Iranians out,” signaling cautious expectations for concrete progress.
Meanwhile, military activity and economic fallout continue. The Pentagon reported it has turned away 34 vessels as part of a wider maritime blockade and interdicted two so-called dark-fleet Iranian ships in the Indo-Pacific. A defense official vowed the U.S. will seize sanctioned vessels and expand the blockade as necessary.
The conflict’s economic impact shows up at the pump and in consumer confidence. Average gasoline prices rose another three cents per gallon, and consumer sentiment has fallen to record lows amid fears about the fighting and its effects on markets. Energy analyst Paul Sankey warned that even if a peace deal were reached immediately, disruptions in oil delivery and logistics mean shortages and higher prices could persist for months, potentially at least three months while supply chains restart.
In related domestic news, the Justice Department closed its investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The probe had examined alleged mismanagement of renovation work at Fed headquarters and drew criticism as politically motivated amid the president’s long-standing disputes with Powell over interest-rate policy. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis had threatened to block the confirmation of Powell’s proposed successor, Kevin Warsh, until the investigation ended; prosecutors’ decision to drop the inquiry lifts a key obstacle and appears to clear the way for a Warsh confirmation vote in the coming weeks.