Iranian foreign minister meets PM Shehbaz and Field Marshal Munir in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is leading a high-level delegation, held talks on Saturday with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the evolving regional situation as Pakistan continues efforts to revive stalled negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also attended the meeting. Before the talks, the PM Office had said the meeting would discuss the situation in the region.

The meeting took place as Islamabad presses ahead with efforts to facilitate a second round of talks between Iran and the United States. After helping secure a two-week ceasefire between the two countries on April 8, Prime Minister Shehbaz had invited delegations from both sides to Islamabad for negotiations.

The first round of talks, however, ended without an agreement, with Tehran and Washington differing on major issues including Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran shut the strait to all traffic after the United States and Israel launched a joint bombing campaign against Iran on February 28. The conflict ended on April 8 following the Pakistan-mediated ceasefire.

Despite the lack of a breakthrough in the first round of talks and US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a naval blockade of Iranian ports, Pakistan continued trying to bring both sides back to negotiations and to secure an extension of the ceasefire.

Hours before the truce was due to expire on April 22, President Trump announced that the ceasefire would be extended, saying he was acting at Pakistan’s request. He also said he was holding off attacks until Iranian leaders and representatives could produce what he described as a unified proposal.

Washington has also confirmed that Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Pakistan on Saturday for a new round of talks with Iran aimed at ending the war. Speaking to Fox News on Friday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said US Vice President JD Vance remained ready to travel to Pakistan, but would not do so for now.

Meeting with Field Marshal Munir

Earlier in the day, Araghchi also called on Field Marshal Munir in Islamabad before meeting the prime minister.

Diplomatic sources said Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Asim Malik and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi were also present in that meeting. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri-Moghaddam and Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also attended.

Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on Friday night with the Iranian delegation. At the time of his arrival, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the Iranian foreign minister would meet Pakistan’s senior leadership to discuss ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability.

Before the visit, Iranian state media reported that Araghchi was beginning a three-country tour that includes Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow.

“The purpose of this visit is to hold bilateral consultations and discuss current developments in the region, as well as the latest situation in the war imposed by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran”, IRNA said.