Days after US President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Pakistan’s Islamabad this evening, Iranian state media IRNA reported.
Iran’s top diplomat will begin a return trip to Islamabad, Oman and Russia, where he is expected to hold bilateral consultations and discuss current developments in the Middle East region along with the latest situation in the US-Israeli war that began in late February.
Read also | America’s war in Iran LIVE: Iran confirms Abbas Araghchi’s trip to Pakistan
Araghchi’s trip to Pakistan comes as officials try to get the two sides to agree on a second round of ceasefire talks. The AP reported earlier today that Araghchi was expected to be accompanied by a small government delegation.
Iranian FM talks to Pakistani leaders
Earlier today, Araghchi held separate phone calls with Pakistani leaders, including Field Marshal Asim Munir and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. In his conversation with Munir, Araghchi spoke about “regional developments and issues related to the ceasefire,” Araghchi’s statement said.
Later, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said that “the two sides exchanged views on regional developments, the ceasefire and the ongoing diplomatic efforts that Islamabad is making in relation to the US-Iranian engagement”.
Peace talks between the US and Iran
The development comes days after Trump told the New York Post that some good news regarding the second round of peace talks could be possible as early as Friday. While Trump renewed hopes of ending the six-week conflict, Iran’s Tasnim news agency denied the claim and accused the US president of lying.
The first round of negotiations failed
The first round of negotiations, which took place on April 11 and 12, failed despite lasting 21 hours. Both sides blamed each other for the failure. While Iran said the US had made “excessive demands”, the US noted that Tehran had decided not to accept its terms, a move that prompted the US president to threaten the Islamic Republic with a naval blockade that remains in place to this day.
The talks, which were expected earlier this week, have been put on hold as Tehran cited a naval blockade as the reason. In addition, the Islamic Republic reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, but closed it again less than 24 hours later due to the ongoing blockade.
Iran maintains a grip on the Strait of Hormuz
While Trump pushed for a naval blockade, Tehran continued to clamp down on the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway responsible for transporting roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil. The Islamic Republic carried out attacks on three vessels earlier this week.
Read also | Iran’s insistence on control of Hormuz is penny smart, dollar foolish
Pakistan tried to convince Tehran
Since then, Islamabad has been trying to reinvigorate the talks, which were due to resume on Monday but did not happen, to end a war that has left thousands dead in the Middle East, rocked energy markets around the world and clouded the global economic picture.
Earlier this week, Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar noted in a post on X that Tehran has yet to officially confirm its participation in the meeting. He wrote: “A formal response from the Iranian side is still awaited to confirm the delegation’s participation in the peace talks in Islamabad.” He further emphasized Islamabad’s role in persuading the Islamic Republic, adding, “Pakistan as a mediator is in constant contact with the Iranians and follows the path of diplomacy and dialogue.” He further said, “Pakistan has made sincere efforts to convince the Iranian leadership to participate in the second round of talks and these efforts are continuing.”
While Aragchi will be in Pakistan, it is not yet officially confirmed when US Vice President JD Vance and his delegation will arrive in Islamabad.
