White House clarifies Ksenia's arrival time amid Iran talks uncertainty

Confusion surrounds the arrival of Ksenia, with reports varying from a 4 PM to a 9 PM arrival time. During a recent Department of State press briefing, officials declined to provide specific details about her plans or location, citing privacy concerns. The spokesperson emphasized that decisions regarding Ksenia's movements would be made in a private environment, and discussions about negotiations related to her situation would not be addressed at this time.

In a significant update regarding international diplomacy, the spokesperson was questioned about the upcoming Iran talks scheduled for Saturday. Tensions were highlighted by Foreign Minister Arachi's recent column, which stated that Iran would not engage in talks if the U.S. insisted on direct negotiations. The spokesperson reiterated that the U.S. position remains for direct talks, but clarified that they are not part of the decision-making team and would not speculate on the format of the discussions.

Despite the uncertainty, the spokesperson confirmed that the talks are still set to proceed, describing them as a crucial first step to gauge Iran's seriousness in negotiations. The involvement of experienced diplomats, including Special Envoy Witkoff, was noted as a positive sign for the upcoming discussions.

As the briefing concluded, a question about the resignation of Ambassador Brink was raised, indicating ongoing changes within the department, though no confirmation was provided at that moment. The meeting underscored the complexities of both domestic and international issues currently facing the State Department.