Pakistan, which is leading mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington, is awaiting a new visit on Sunday from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as part of efforts to end the war, while U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed his determination to “win” it.
Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad for the second time during the current weekend, this time following Trump’s cancellation of a planned visit by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, amid the lack of a breakthrough to end the war that began with a U.S.-Israeli attack on Tehran on February 28.
Earlier in April, Islamabad hosted the first round of direct negotiations under a ceasefire framework between the warring sides, but no agreement was reached to end the conflict, whose repercussions have affected the Middle East and global energy markets.
Araghchi began a foreign tour on Friday from Islamabad, which Tehran said would also include Muscat and later Moscow. Shortly after arriving in the Omani capital on Saturday, Iranian state media reported that the foreign minister would return to Pakistan later on Sunday.
The official IRNA news agency reported that some members of Araghchi’s accompanying delegation had returned to Tehran for consultations and to “receive the necessary instructions regarding issues related to ending the war,” before rejoining him in Islamabad on Sunday night.
In Oman, Araghchi met with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, according to official sources in both Iran and the Sultanate on Sunday.
The Oman News Agency stated that both sides discussed “developments in the region, mediation efforts, and attempts aimed at ending conflicts.”
Earlier in Pakistan, the Iranian minister met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Army Chief Asim Munir. Araghchi said Tehran was waiting to determine “whether the United States is truly serious about diplomacy.”
In Washington, Trump said on Saturday that the shooting during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which he had attended, would not deter him from the war, although he ruled out any direct connection between the two events.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the shooting “will not stop me from winning the war with Iran. I don’t know if it had anything to do with it, I don’t think so based on what we know,” although he had earlier stated that “you can never really know” whether the incident was linked to the war.
Trump had also announced on Saturday that Witkoff and Kushner would not travel to Pakistan.
He said: “I told them: No, you are not taking an 18-hour trip to get there. We have all the cards. They can call us whenever they want, but you are not taking 18-hour trips anymore just to sit and talk about nothing.”
He stressed that all the Iranians needed to do “was call us” if they wanted to negotiate, adding that Washington had wasted “a lot of time traveling, and a lot of work.”
However, Trump emphasized that canceling the trip did not mean the war would resume, adding that the Iranians “gave us a document that should have been better than it was,” and that after the visit was canceled, “they gave us a new document that was better,” without providing further details.
“Firm Strategy”
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday during a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Pakistan “is committed to being an honest and sincere mediator and is working tirelessly to advance lasting peace and permanent stability in the region.”
Major differences remain between Iran and the United States on several issues.
Maritime tensions in the Gulf remain a key point of contention, as Washington imposes a blockade on Iranian ports, while Tehran continues to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supplies. Tehran refuses negotiations under blockade conditions.
On Saturday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said that controlling maritime traffic through the Strait was a “firm strategy” for Iran.
Iranian forces also warned that they would respond if Washington continued blockading its ports, describing U.S. military actions as “robbery” and “piracy.”
AFP
