Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Islamabad, which is leading mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington, after holding talks with Pakistani officials, according to Iranian state media on Saturday.
The IRNA news agency reported: “Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Islamabad after meeting with senior Pakistani officials and discussing bilateral relations and regional developments.”
A Pakistani source involved in the talks told Reuters on Saturday that Araghchi informed Pakistani officials of Tehran’s demands in the negotiations, as well as its reservations regarding U.S. demands, during his visit to Islamabad.
U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner headed to the Pakistani capital on Saturday in an effort to launch a new round of negotiations with Iran, despite Iranian state media ruling out any direct negotiations for the time being.
The White House stated that Witkoff and Kushner departed for Islamabad, where they would hold “in-person talks” with representatives of the Iranian side.
Araghchi had arrived in Islamabad on Friday, where he met with Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir, who plays a central role in Pakistan’s mediation efforts. The two officials appeared together in a brief video published by Tehran’s embassy.
(AFP + Reuters)
