ISLAMABAD: Iran’s foreign ministry said on Saturday that its officials will not hold a direct meeting with United States (US) representatives in Islamabad, following the arrival of an Iranian delegation in the Pakistani capital.
The White House said President Donald Trump was sending his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan to meet with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with Islamabad pushing to revive ceasefire talks between the US and Iran.
The talks planned for Saturday came as much of the world is on edge over a war that has snarled crucial energy exports through the Strait of Hormuz, clouded the global economic picture and left thousands dead across the Middle East.
Araghchi, who arrived in Islamabad late Friday, wrote he was traveling to Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow on a trip focused on “bilateral matters” and “regional developments.” He was later seen meeting Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief and a key figure in mediation efforts, in a video shared by Iran’s embassy.
“No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US Iran’s observations would be conveyed to Pakistan,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmael Baqaei said on X.
“FM Araghchi will be meeting with Pakistani high-level officials in concert with their ongoing mediation & good offices for ending American imposed war.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt earlier said in an interview on Fox News Channel that Witkoff and Kushner would meet with Araghchi.
“We’re hopeful that it will be a productive conversation and hopefully move the ball forward to a deal,” Leavitt said.
She said Vice President JD Vance would not travel but that he remains “deeply involved,” and would be willing to go to Pakistan “if we feel it’s a necessary use of his time.”
Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the president’s national security team are on “standby” to fly to Pakistan if needed, Leavitt said.
Araghchi and the two Trump envoys held hours of indirect talks in Geneva on Feb. 27 over Tehran’s nuclear program, but walked away without a deal. The next day, Israel and the United States started the war against Iran.
Leavitt said the president decided to send Witkoff and Kushner to Pakistan “to hear the Iranians out.”
“We’ve certainly seen some progress from the Iranian side in the last couple of days,” Leavitt said, without offering any details about what US officials were hearing.
Pakistan has been trying to get US and Iranian officials back to the table after Trump this week announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran, honoring Islamabad’s request for more time for diplomatic outreach.
That hasn’t lowered tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas is shipped during peacetime.
Iran has kept its stranglehold on traffic through the strait, attacking three ships earlier this week, while the US is maintaining a blockade on Iranian ports and Trump has ordered the military to “shoot and kill” small boats that could be placing mines.
Pakistan has also imposed extensive traffic restrictions across Islamabad ahead of the high-level diplomatic engagements, a routine measure during sensitive visits, with key routes closed and heavy traffic barred from entering the capital.
Islamabad is looking forward to “meaningful engagements aimed at promoting regional peace and stability,” Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on X after receiving his Iranian counterpart.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad police continued their joint combing operations with security forces and searched 259 households, 31 hotels and 26 shops.
Senior officers were reviewing the security arrangements in the field as the law enforcers took in 31 suspects for questioning, a police spokesman said.
“Citizens should cooperate with the police during checks and immediately report any suspicious activity,” he added.
— With additional input from AP.
