Dar welcomes Araghchi’s clarification that Iran has never rejected Islamabad talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Iran was “deeply grateful to Pakistan” for its mediation efforts amid the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran, adding that they had “never refused to go to Islamabad” for talks.

In a post on X, he said: “Iran’s position was misrepresented by the US media,” adding: “What we are concerned about are the terms for a decisive and lasting END to the illegal war that has been forced upon us”.

His statement came amid reports that US-Iran mediation efforts had narrowly missed a breakthrough on two occasions.

Pakistan has actively positioned itself as a neutral facilitator amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, offering Islamabad as a venue for dialogue.

The initiative reflects Islamabad’s broader efforts to de-escalate regional tensions, particularly in the wake of heightened hostilities following US and Israeli strikes against Iranian targets.

Reacting to the development, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said he appreciated the clarification from his “Dear Brother Araghchi”.

Meanwhile, security sources said Araghchi’s statement counters a disinformation campaign run by select Western and Indian media, as well as their affiliates in Pakistan, regarding Iran’s willingness to engage diplomatically.

They reaffirmed that through constructive engagement with all key stakeholders, Pakistan continues to pursue regional peace and stability, enhancing its reputation as an honest broker in international diplomacy.

The proposed meeting in Islamabad was seen as an important opportunity for de-escalation amid rising regional tensions. According to sources, despite extensive preparations, the deals were postponed at the last minute, with both sides seeking additional time for internal consultations.

Earlier, in a statement, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the ministry had noted several media reports, including on social media, citing so-called official government sources regarding the ongoing conflict in the region and Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace and dialogue.

“We categorically reject these false insinuations attributed to alleged official sources as baseless and a fantasy. Any attribution to official sources in this regard is wrong. It is a matter of concern that the briefing held on Friday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been misrepresented, with references to topics that were neither discussed nor fully stated,” he said.

Andrabi added that diplomacy at a time of heightened regional sensitivities required both discretion and responsibility. He urged all media platforms to exercise due diligence, avoid speculation and rely solely on officially issued statements and media readouts for accurate and timely information.

Backchannel peace efforts continue

Backchannel efforts to arrange US-Iran talks are still ongoing, despite earlier attempts to convene a high-level meeting in Islamabad that failed to materialize, sources familiar with the matter said.

Pakistan had been quietly facilitating preparations for a possible round of direct engagement involving a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance and senior Iranian officials.

The proposed meeting to be held in Islamabad was seen as a potential opening for de-escalation amid heightened regional tensions.

But despite advanced preparations on more than one occasion in recent days, the planned engagements were postponed at the last minute, with both sides demanding additional time for internal consultations, sources said.

“Efforts are ongoing and there is still a willingness to explore diplomatic options,” one source noted, adding that the situation remains fluid given the broader regional dynamics.

These peace efforts come as Pakistan hosted talks with Turkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia on Sunday, March 29, as part of its efforts to broker an end to the Iran war.

Initial discussions focused on proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, sources familiar with the matter said.

Foreign ministers from the three regional powers landed in Islamabad last week for talks as Iran warned the US against launching a ground attack and global oil prices rose amid continued fighting between Iran, the US and Israel.

At the time, the countries meeting in Pakistan had sent proposals to Washington related to maritime traffic and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, said five sources with knowledge of the matter. Reutersas part of a wider effort to stabilize shipping flows.

A day prior to these talks, DPM/FM Dar had spoken to FM Araghchi and called for diplomacy and dialogue as the only path to peace.