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The Trump administration is sending special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan this weekend for a second round of indirect talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad. The meetings will be mediated by Pakistan and follow a request from the Iranian side for in-person discussions.

The talks come after the recent ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, with the U.S. administration describing the process as ongoing and in hopes this weekend's meetings will "move the ball forward toward a deal."

The U.S. blockade on Iranian ports also remains in place. On Friday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the blockade would remain in place "for as long as it takes," underscoring the continued pressure against which negotiations are taking place, even as diplomatic engagement resumes. China has called for the ceasefire to be maintained and for disputes to be resolved through political and diplomatic means, while emphasizing concerns about disruptions to global energy supplies and the importance of maintaining normal passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Senator Steve Daines, a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, is set to lead a bipartisan congressional delegation to China beginning May 1, with stops in Shanghai and Beijing. The trip comes ahead of the potential summit between Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping next month, and as Washington increases pressure on Beijing over trade, technology competition, and its ties to Iran, while still signaling interest in maintaining dialogue.

It also follows recent reports that Chinese scholars were denied entry at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport despite holding valid visas. Chinese authorities issued a travel advisory last week, urging citizens to exercise caution when traveling to the U.S., citing concerns over border inspections and treatment at ports of entry. Despite renewed momentum toward high-level dialogue, the episode highlights the increasing challenges surrounding scientific exchange and academic mobility between the two countries.

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