ISLAMABAD — Tehran held firm in its claim that its foreign minister Abbas Araghchi would not meet with US negotiators for a second round of talks during his Saturday visit to Islamabad — throwing into question the future of the negotiations.
Abbas and the Iranian delegation left for the airport shortly before 6 p.m. local time after holding meetings with primary Pakistani mediators Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed on Friday that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would leave the US for “direct talks” with Tehran in Pakistan on Saturday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi meets Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in Islamabad, Pakistan, in this screengrab taken from a video released April 25, 2026. via REUTERS
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (center left) meeting with Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir (center right) in Islamabad on April 25, 2026. APSo far, the White House has not responded to requests for comment about whether the trip is still on or what time they would leave.
Iran continues to publicly claim they have no round two talks planned with the US.
Tehran has consistently said it would only be attending bilateral meetings with the Pakistanis — not the United States.
However, Leavitt’s announcement about Witkoff and Kushner’s travel left Islamabad — and the world — buzzing with the potential that the visit would be extended into a new round of talks.
“The Iranians reached out — as the president called on them to do — and asked for this in-person conversation,” Leavitt told Fox News on Friday.
“We’re hopeful that it will be a productive conversation, and hopefully move the ball forward towards a deal.”
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sitting down with Araghchi and other members of the Iranian delegation on Saturday. via REUTERSIran’s foreign minister described his trip to Islamabad as “very fruitful,” saying the Pakistani mediators proved to be valuable for Tehran as efforts to restore peace continue, Iran’s state media reported.
“During this visit, I explained the position of the Islamic Republic of Iran on a practical and workable framework for a permanent end to the war against Iran,” Araghchi said, according to IRNA.
“It remains to be seen whether the United States really has a serious will to advance diplomacy.”
The Iranian’s departure does not necessarily mean a second round of talks is dead.
Tehran had previously said it would visit Oman and Russia after the discussions in Islamabad, where they may ask for support while preparing a new proposal for the US, insiders say.
If an arrangement is reached, Iran may travel back to Islamabad in the future for another round of peace talks with the US.
However, Iran has so far not publicly agreed to round two.
