Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held discussions with Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir in Islamabad on Saturday, amid hopes of reviving dialogue between Iran and the United States to resolve the ongoing Middle East conflict. The meeting also included Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Asim Malik and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Joining the talks from the Iranian side were Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, Ambassador Reza Amiri-Moghaddam, and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei. During his visit, Araghchi is scheduled to meet separately with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar.
The Iranian delegation arrived in Islamabad on Friday night, where they were welcomed by DPM Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Munir, and other senior officials, a statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The purpose of the visit is to engage with Pakistan’s leadership on recent regional developments and ongoing efforts to promote peace and stability in the area.
In a significant development, Araghchi is conducting a tri-nation tour that includes stops in Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow. Iranian state media highlighted that the visit aims to conduct bilateral consultations on current regional issues and the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran.
Meanwhile, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to travel to Pakistan on Saturday for a new round of talks with Iran aimed at ending the war, as confirmed by the White House. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Vice President JD Vance remains prepared to travel to Pakistan if needed, with a US logistics and security team already stationed in Islamabad ahead of the potential negotiations.
This diplomatic activity follows pivotal mediation efforts by Pakistan, which brokered a ceasefire that took effect on April 8. The first round of talks, held earlier this month in Islamabad, lasted 21 hours and marked the first direct meeting between senior American and Iranian officials in over a decade, the highest level of engagement since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The previous talks were led by US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, focusing on issues including the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program, and international sanctions. However, the second round of negotiations faces uncertainty after both sides failed to agree on measures concerning the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran had closed following US and Israeli attacks on February 28.
In retaliation, Iran launched strikes against Israel and US bases across the Middle East. After the inconclusive first round, US President Donald Trump announced a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran briefly reopened the Strait of Hormuz on April 17 citing a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel but closed it again the next day due to the US blockade, which Iran views as an act of war.
Despite ongoing hostilities, Pakistan has maintained diplomatic efforts to bring Washington and Tehran back to negotiations and extend the ceasefire. Just hours before the ceasefire was set to expire on April 22, President Trump extended the truce, urging Iranian leaders to present a unified proposal for peace talks. Trump stated on Truth Social that his decision was made at Pakistan’s request to allow more time for discussions.
