Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has left Islamabad without meeting US envoys who were expected to arrive for a second round of peace talks, according to Pakistani officials cited by the Associated Press. Araghchi arrived in Pakistan’s capital earlier on Saturday, April 25, 2026, and was anticipated to engage in negotiations with a US delegation led by special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. However, the Iranian diplomat departed for Muscat and later Moscow after holding talks with Pakistani leadership, signaling Tehran’s stance against direct engagement with Washington.
The White House had confirmed that Witkoff and Kushner would lead the US delegation in Islamabad, but their arrival had been delayed. As Araghchi was already present in Pakistan, he met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, conveying Iran’s concerns about the evolving situation in the Middle East. Pakistani officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the Iranian delegation had communicated it would not participate in direct negotiations with the US team, leaving the timing of the American envoys’ arrival uncertain.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei reiterated Tehran’s position on social media, stating that “no meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US” during Araghchi’s visit. Instead, Baghaei said Pakistan would act as an intermediary to facilitate communication between the two sides. He thanked the Pakistani government for its “ongoing mediation & good offices for ending American imposed war of aggression,” a characterization that reflects Iran’s framing of regional tensions.
This development followed earlier indications from the White House that US envoys were scheduled to meet Araghchi during his Pakistan trip. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had told Fox News that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were expected to engage in productive talks, adding that Vice President JD Vance remained deeply involved and could travel if necessary. However, by the time Araghchi departed, no such meeting had materialized.
Araghchi’s itinerary after Islamabad includes a stop in Muscat to discuss the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint where global shipping of oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizer and other supplies has faced disruption due to near-closure linked to regional tensions. He is then expected to travel to Moscow to coordinate on defence and strategic ties, underscoring Iran’s efforts to strengthen alliances amid stalled diplomacy with the United States.
The episode underscores the fragility of backchannel diplomacy between Washington and Tehran, even as an open-ended ceasefire continues to pause most direct fighting. Analysts note that while hostilities have diminished, the economic fallout persists, particularly through disruptions to maritime trade routes vital to global energy markets. Iran’s refusal to engage directly with US officials highlights deep mistrust and divergent expectations regarding the scope and conditions of any renewed negotiations.
For ongoing updates on diplomatic developments between Iran and the United States, readers can refer to official statements from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. State Department. Both institutions regularly publish updates on bilateral engagements and regional policy positions.
As of now, there is no confirmed date for when the US envoys might arrive in Islamabad or whether the second round of talks will proceed. The situation remains fluid, with regional actors closely monitoring for any shifts in diplomatic posture that could influence the trajectory of de-escalation efforts.
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