Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to travel to Pakistan in the evening for what officials said was an “expected” second round of US-Iran negotiations in the capital. Iranian media confirmed Araghchi’s trip, though did not report on what was the reason behind his sudden visit to Islamabad, reports CBS News.
According to Iranian state news IRNA, Araghchi was set to travel on Friday to various cities which include Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow, stating that the “purpose of the trip is to hold bilateral consultations, discuss ongoing regional developments, and review the latest situation regarding the US- and Israeli-imposed war against Iran.”
Voicing optimism, US President Donald Trump again stated that Tehran will eventually come to make a deal with Washington, which will be on his terms, stating that he was in “no rush”, and claiming that he had “all the time in the world”, while the clock was ticking for Tehran.
While Iranian officials have not commented on Trump’s claims, Tehran has constantly said that it will only make a deal once the US blockade of its ports is over, maintaining that a deal has to be mutual, and cannot be conducted under the “shadow of war.”
Trump, along with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth have said the American military blockade of Iranian ports and vessels will force the regime in Tehran to capitulate, and they have both warned that military strikes could resume if Iran refuses to make a deal.
There was no immediate comment from the White House on Friday about any plan to send a negotiating team back to Islamabad for a second round of negotiations.
While, Vice President JD Vance had been expected to head to Pakistan earlier in the week for talks, he had to cancel his trip as Iran declined to send a delegation.
