Irans Foreign Minister Araghchi to visit Pakistan for US talks discussions

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi Expected to Visit Pakistan on Friday

Islamabad, Pakistan - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on Friday night with a small delegation. According to senior government officials, this visit marks a key step towards resuming direct talks between the US and Iran aimed at ending their conflict.

Araghchi’s visit to Pakistan was confirmed after phone calls between him and Pakistani leaders on Friday. The Iranian state news agency IRNA reported that Araghchi’s trip is bilateral in nature, focusing on speaking with Pakistani officials rather than immediate talks with the US.

Pakistani officials have expressed a “high likelihood of a breakthrough” between the US and Iran following days of escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. A US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance was expected to arrive in Islamabad earlier this week for talks, but Iran declined to return, citing the naval blockade of its ports.

The blockade, enforced by former US President Donald Trump on April 13, has been a point of contention between the two countries. Since then, negotiations have been stalled, with Iran insisting that the US lift the blockade before it would return for talks.

Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have risen in recent days, following incidents involving Iranian-flagged ships and US naval vessels. The situation changed on Friday morning when Araghchi spoke by phone with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who underscored the importance of sustained dialogue.

Araghchi also reportedly spoke with Field Marshal Asim Munir, although this was not confirmed by Pakistani authorities. The US has not yet confirmed whether it will send a delegation to meet Araghchi and his team or when it plans to do so.

The US had previously sent a delegation to Islamabad on April 11, which included Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. However, Iran’s delegation was led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is seen as closer to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps than Araghchi and Iran’s political leadership.

The US remains prepared to attend the second round of talks, which are expected to take place in Islamabad. The city has received at least nine US aircraft carrying communications equipment, vehicles, security staff, and technical personnel in preparation for the dialogue.

Source: Al Jazeera