Friday’s atmosphere suggested the possibility of resuming talks between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the war, as negotiators from both sides headed to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, without confirmation of direct discussions taking place, two weeks after previous negotiations had failed.
On another front, the ceasefire in Lebanon appears to be at risk, with Hezbollah and Israel exchanging accusations of violating the truce, one day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced its extension for three more weeks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on Friday evening, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, without directly referring to talks with the United States.
Iranian television reported that Araghchi does not intend to meet U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Earlier, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt announced that envoys of President Trump would travel to Pakistan on Saturday for talks “with representatives of the Iranian delegation,” noting that the meeting came at Tehran’s request.
Leavitt added that Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation two weeks ago, would not participate in this visit but could later join Witkoff and Kushner if progress is made.
After Pakistan, Araghchi is scheduled to continue his regional tour to Muscat and Moscow for “bilateral consultations and discussions on ongoing regional developments,” according to Iran’s official IRNA news agency.
Islamabad had been awaiting for days the resumption of these talks, which had started two weeks earlier and stopped after only a few hours, despite the United States extending the ceasefire unilaterally for an indefinite period.
The Middle East war, which broke out on February 28 with a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran, has resulted in thousands of deaths, particularly in Iran and Lebanon, and has also shaken the global economy.
Oil prices fell slightly on Friday after the announcement of Araghchi’s trip to Pakistan. However, navigation remains suspended in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passed before the war, and which is currently under a dual Iranian-American blockade.
President of the European Council Antonio Costa confirmed on Friday that reopening the Strait of Hormuz immediately is “vital” for the entire world.
(AFP)
