Islamabad is likely to host a second round of high-stakes diplomatic talks between US and Iran. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has touched down in the Pakistani capital, and the US is reportedly sending its own envoys there too, raising the possibility of some kind of engagement between the two sides, even if neither is calling it that.
The White House said Friday that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are headed to Islamabad on Saturday for what it’s calling direct peace talks with Iran.
It added that Vice President JD Vance is on standby and could join if discussions show progress.
According to the White House press secretary, Washington has already “seen some progress” from the Iranian side.
However, Tehran has publicly downplayed expectations. A spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry said no direct meeting with US officials is planned, adding that Iran’s position would instead be conveyed through Pakistani mediators.
Nobody seems entirely sure. Pakistani officials are cautiously hopeful, suggesting that even if both sides don’t sit across the table, the fact that they’re in the same city at the same time could still move things forward.
Araghchi’s visit is part of a wider regional swing, he’s expected to sit down with Pakistani leadership on security and bilateral issues before heading to Moscow.
Iranian state media outlets like Tasnim and Nournews are sticking to the line that no formal US talks are planned. But as anyone following this back-and-forth knows, what’s said publicly and what happens in a back room are often two very different things.
This kind of mixed messaging has happened before. Back in late March, Trump claimed the US had held “productive conversations” with Iran. Tehran denied it flat out — then Iranian sources quietly admitted there had been some contact and that they weren’t completely closed to the right kind of proposal.
Nothing was achieved in the first round of talks in Pakistan in April but it apparently opened the door to a flurry of behind-the-scenes communication, technical teams, informal exchanges, messages passed through go-betweens.
Iran’s position hasn’t shifted much. It’s saying it won’t negotiate under pressure and wants US sanctions lifted before any serious engagement. At the same time, the broader regional picture is tense, with recent military activity making the diplomatic tightrope even harder to walk.
Pakistan has been doing a lot of the heavy lifting here, running what amounts to shuttle diplomacy to keep both sides talking even when they won’t talk to each other directly. Araghchi is expected to meet the prime minister and foreign minister during his stay.
The diplomatic push comes as tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor. Iran has imposed transit “tolls” on vessels passing through the strait following recent hostilities, a move that has drawn concern from Gulf nations and other countries dependent on uninterrupted energy supplies.
Iran’s ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, said exceptions are being considered for friendly nations, including Russia, regarding these tolls. Tehran has indicated it is working to extend such exemptions as part of its diplomatic outreach.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials confirmed that the country has already begun collecting revenue from transit fees, described as “security and insurance charges,” imposed on commercial ships and oil tankers navigating the strait with Iranian authorization.
The fees reportedly vary based on cargo type, vessel size, and risk level, with some estimates reaching up to $2 million per supertanker, Iran media reported.
Araghchi’s multi-nation visit is seen as part of a broader effort by Tehran to strengthen regional alliances, manage escalating tensions, and shape the diplomatic landscape as the crisis continues to unfold.
From further afield, Egypt has weighed in too, saying it hopes a fresh round of Iran-US engagement could help bring some stability to the region.
