Iran FM Arrives In Islamabad For US Talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on Friday as Pakistan prepared to host another round of diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the West Asia conflict. Iran, however, said there would be no direct meeting with US officials.
Iranian Foreign Minister In Islamabad
Araghchi reached the Pakistani capital as part of a regional tour that also includes Muscat and Moscow. He said the visits were aimed at coordinating with partner countries on bilateral issues and regional developments.
Iran’s foreign ministry said Tehran’s official position and observations would be conveyed to Pakistan, which would then communicate them to the United States. This indicates that the talks are expected to remain indirect rather than face-to-face.
US Envoys To Visit Pakistan For Talks
The White House said US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Special Envoy for Peace Jared Kushner would travel to Pakistan for the discussions.
Washington said it hoped the talks would help move negotiations forward. Araghchi had earlier held indirect talks with the two US envoys in Geneva on Iran’s nuclear programme, but those discussions did not produce an agreement.
Iran-US Ceasefire Talks Continue
The latest diplomatic effort comes after Washington and Tehran agreed to a temporary ceasefire on April 8 to allow further negotiations. An earlier round of Islamabad talks on April 12 had failed to produce a breakthrough.
US President Donald Trump later said the ceasefire would be extended until Iran submits a proposal to permanently end the war in West Asia.
West Asia Conflict And Nuclear Dispute
The conflict began after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, saying Tehran posed a serious threat to Israel. Iran retaliated by targeting Israel, US military bases and cities in Gulf countries.
The nuclear dispute remains central to the crisis. Israel has accused Iran of moving closer to nuclear weapons capability, while Tehran maintains that its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes.
