Iran, US Delegations Head To Islamabad As Mixed Signals Cloud Prospects For Talks

Iran's foreign minister has arrived in Islamabad as the United States prepares to dispatch senior envoys to Pakistan for what Washington described as a new round of negotiations to end the Iran war, even as Tehran publicly denied any meeting with American officials was planned.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi landed in the Pakistani capital in the early hours of April 25, framing his visit in a post on X as a "timely tour" to coordinate on "bilateral matters" with Pakistani officials before proceeding to Oman and Russia.

“Our neighbors are our priority,” said Araqchi, who is leading the delegation. Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who led the first round of talks with the US in Pakistan on April 11-12, has not traveled to Islamabad.

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Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei was more explicit, posting on X that "no meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US," and that Tehran's positions would be "conveyed to Pakistan" rather than delivered directly to American negotiators.

Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB on April 25 said Araqchi will meet with Field Marshal Asim Munir to convey Iran’s response to his proposal for a deal with the US. The response, IRIB said without elaborating, “is comprehensive and takes into account all of Tehran’s considerations.”

Witkoff, Kushner Heading To Pakistan

Washington told a different story. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner would travel to Islamabad on April 25 for what she described as "direct talks, intermediated by the Pakistanis" with the Iranian delegation.

Leavitt said the administration had "seen some progress from the Iranian side in the last couple of days." Vice President JD Vance, who led the US team during the first round of Islamabad talks, will not travel this weekend but remains ready to fly to the Pakistani capital, she said.

“Everyone will be on standby to fly to Pakistan if necessary,” Leavitt said.

Iran has conditioned its return to the negotiating table on the lifting of a US naval blockade of its ports, a demand Trump has so far rejected. Tehran has also dismissed Trump's unilateral extension of the cease-fire as "meaningless" so long as the blockade remains in effect.

Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have sharpened in recent days, with Iran seizing two vessels and firing on a third after the US captured an Iranian-flagged ship.

 
Iran, US Delegations Head To Islamabad As Mixed Signals Cloud Prospects For Talks

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