Islamabad: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi landed in Islamabad on Friday with a senior delegation, paving the way for Pakistan-brokered efforts to revive stalled US-Iran negotiations—though Tehran ruled out direct meetings.
Araghchi will confer with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief General Asim Munir, and other officials, as confirmed by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on X. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei clarified no US encounters are planned; Pakistan will relay Tehran's stance on ending the "American-imposed war of aggression" instead.
A US team, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, is also due in Islamabad. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted talks will be direct but Pakistan-facilitated, with Vice President JD Vance overseeing from Washington alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
President Trump, in a Reuters interview, revealed Iran is crafting an offer to meet US demands, including abandoning enriched uranium and ensuring Strait of Hormuz oil flows. "They’re making an offer and we’ll have to see," he said, vowing to maintain the US blockade on Iranian ports until satisfied. Talks hinge on resolving the Hormuz deadlock, where Iran has seized ships and restricted traffic to a trickle—five vessels in the last 24 hours versus 130 pre-conflict—while Trump enforces a counter-blockade.
Araghchi's visit caps a diplomatic tour including Muscat and Moscow, amid Tehran's insistence on Hormuz concessions. Trump seeks an "everlasting" deal, claiming US leverage despite internal Iranian divisions.
(Inputs from IANS)