Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi returned to Pakistan on Sunday, a nation leading mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington. This visit is part of ongoing attempts to end the war that U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to "win."
اضافة اعلان
Araghchi arrived in Islamabad for the second time this weekend, following President Trump’s cancellation of a planned visit by his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The diplomatic shuffle comes as no breakthrough has been achieved to end the conflict that erupted following a U.S.-Israeli attack on Tehran on February 28.
Earlier in April, Islamabad hosted the first round of direct negotiations under a truce agreement, though no final deal was reached to end a war that has severely impacted Middle Eastern stability and global energy markets.
Muscat and Regional Diplomacy
Prior to his return to Islamabad, Araghchi visited Muscat as part of a tour expected to include Russia. The Iranian state news agency, IRNA, confirmed his arrival in the Pakistani capital Sunday afternoon from Oman, where he met with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. The Oman News Agency reported that the two leaders discussed regional developments and mediation efforts aimed at resolving conflicts.
During his stay in Pakistan, Araghchi met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Army Chief Asim Munir. Araghchi remarked that Tehran is waiting to see "if the United States is truly serious about diplomacy."
Trump's Stance and the Security Incident
In Washington, President Trump asserted on Saturday that the shooting incident during the White House Correspondents' Dinner would not deter him from the war, despite downplaying a direct link between the two.
"It won't deter me from winning the Iran war," Trump told reporters. "I don’t know if it had anything to do with it; I don’t think so based on what we know."
Regarding the cancellation of Witkoff and Kushner’s trip, Trump stated: "We have all the cards. They [the Iranians] can call us whenever they want, but we aren't going to take 18-hour flights anymore to sit and talk about nothing." However, he noted that the Iranians had submitted a "new, better document" after the cancellation, without providing specifics.
Naval Tensions and the "Resolute Strategy"
Deep divisions remain, particularly regarding maritime security in the Gulf. Washington maintains a blockade on Iranian ports, while Tehran continues to close the vital Strait of Hormuz.
On Sunday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the interception of a sanctioned vessel in the Arabian Sea involved in transporting Iranian energy products, noting that 37 vessels have been turned back since the blockade began. In response, Iran's Revolutionary Guard affirmed that controlling maritime traffic in the Strait remains a "resolute strategy," warning of retaliation against what they termed American "piracy" and "robbery."
Source: AFP
