Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Islamabad as part of a three-country tour amid ongoing diplomatic efforts involving the United States and Pakistan, while conflicting statements have emerged over planned Iran-US talks.

The White House said US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Islamabad for talks with Iran. However, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said “no meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US”, adding that Tehran’s “observations would be conveyed by Pakistan”.

Commercial flights resume at Tehran airport after two months

Pakistani mediators remain “cautiously optimistic” about the prospects of Iran-US engagement following Araghchi’s arrival in the Pakistani capital, says report.

The Iranian side has maintained that no trilateral meeting with the United States is scheduled, rejecting the US version of events. Tehran has also insisted that a key sticking point remains the demand for the complete opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to what it describes as a US blockade, while Washington has not indicated any willingness to lift restrictions.

Despite the disagreement, Pakistani officials said the ongoing presence of all sides reflects progress in behind-the-scenes diplomacy. They described the process as “relentless diplomacy” involving continuous engagement from multiple parties.

According to diplomatic sources, in the past 24 hours Pakistan has held separate discussions not only with Iran but also with Russia. Officials said Moscow is expected to be another stop on the Iranian foreign minister’s tour after leaving Pakistan.

While the situation remains at a stalemate, mediators in Islamabad believe continued shuttle diplomacy could help keep dialogue efforts alive between Tehran and Washington.

Source- Al Jazeera