Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly welcomes Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during a meeting in Islamabad. Photo: app
ISLAMABAD:
Despite no immediate prospect of direct talks between Iran and the United States, diplomacy remains very much alive as a flurry of activity behind the scenes suggests a serious push to seek a permanent end to the war, it emerged on Sunday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi returned to Islamabad after spending several hours in Muscat, Oman, as part of ongoing diplomatic engagements. Araghchi traveled to Muscat on a Pakistani flight while members of his delegation returned to Tehran to consult the leadership at home.
Upon his return, his team regrouped in Islamabad for further discussions with Pakistani authorities. Significantly, sources said Araghchi met Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, soon after arriving from Oman, as part of consultations on efforts to de-escalate regional tensions.
According to Iranian media, Araghchi also carried written messages outlining Tehran’s position on key issues, including its “nuclear red lines” and the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement, officials said, was not part of formal negotiations but an attempt to clearly convey Iran’s position amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.
After a brief stopover in Islamabad, Araghchi is expected to travel to Moscow, where he will meet with Russian authorities, including President Vladimir Putin. Russia, a close ally of Iran, has previously offered to help resolve issues surrounding Tehran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium.
What has emerged so far is that several regional countries are now actively involved in diplomatic efforts. After his return from Oman, the Iranian foreign minister also held separate contacts with his Qatari and Saudi counterparts in what is seen as an attempt to develop a broader regional framework ahead of any potential deal between Tehran and Washington.
The Gulf countries, which have been directly affected by the Iran-US-Israel conflict, both through strikes and the fallout on energy markets, are keen to ensure their concerns are reflected in any future deal.
Turkey is also playing an active role in de-escalation efforts, with its foreign minister engaging US negotiators as well as Iranian and Omani counterparts to discuss the evolving situation.
Pakistan remains at the center of these diplomatic maneuvers. While a week-long security lockdown in Islamabad has now been lifted, the possibility of possible direct talks between the US and Iran cannot be ruled out.
There appears to be a deliberate effort to keep discussions under wraps, as excessive media attention is seen as counterproductive. Although the US has canceled plans to send its team of negotiators to Islamabad, President Donald Trump’s messages have remained cautiously open.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said the war with Iran would end soon and signaled Washington was still open to engagement, saying, “If the Iranians want to talk, they can reach out to us.”
Trump again praised Pakistan’s efforts in peace talks and stated that he has “great respect” for Pakistan. “Big respect to Pakistan, but I will because they’ve been fantastic. They’ve really tried and they’ll stay involved,” he said.
Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, in a post on X also praised Pakistan’s efforts for peace. He said Araghchi’s regional diplomatic tour was aimed at reviewing bilateral relations with Pakistan as well as consulting on the issue of regional development.
“I would like to express my sincere and wholehearted gratitude and appreciation to the Government, Army and people of Pakistan, especially HE Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, for their tireless efforts and good office initiative to end the war and bring lasting peace to the region,” he wrote.
“Here I express my sincere gratitude to the army staffs, security forces, police, employees of all executive institutions and especially the honorable people of Pakistan and Islamabad residents, for their patience, hospitality and cooperative synergy during this period. Iran-Pakistan Friendship Zindabad.”
Despite the absence of direct talks for now, Trump has indicated no intention to resume hostilities or end the cease-fire, reinforcing the sense that room for diplomacy remains. Diplomatic sources said that given the high stakes, both in terms of global peace and the economy, neither side wants a return to conflict.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, meanwhile, told Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by phone that Tehran would not enter into “imposed negotiations” under threats or blockade, according to an Iranian government statement. He said the United States would first have to remove obstacles, including its maritime blockade, before negotiators could begin laying the groundwork for a solution.
There is also a growing perception that the decision to keep the ceasefire open is part of a broader understanding to allow diplomacy sufficient time to resolve complex issues. It is clear that the next round of talks between Iran and the US can take place once broader issues are dealt with through back channels.
In a related move, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar enforced traffic restrictions around the Serena Hotel and Islamabad’s Red Zone had been lifted. He thanked the people of Pakistan, especially the people of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, for their patience and cooperation, saying their support had helped ensure the safety of visiting delegations and facilitated the ongoing peace effort.
(WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)
