FM Araghchi, CDF Munir confer on ending US-Iran war as peace push gains momentum

• Abbas Araghchi returned to Islamabad to convey Iran’s position on a framework ‘to completely end war’ with US: ISNA

• Iranian FM had already been in Islamabad only a day before, after which he traveled to Oman

• Held separate telephone conversations with Saudi, French and Qatari counterparts while flying from Muscat to Islamabad

• Trump says Iran could call if it wanted to negotiate an end to war after holding back envoys from traveling to Islamabad

 ISLAMABAD: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday held talks with Pakistani military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in Islamabad, Iranian state media reported, as regional and international efforts to bring an end to the escalating US–Iran conflict gained momentum.

“Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has met with Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir,” the state-run IRNA news agency said on X.

Foreign Minister @araghchi has met with Pakistan's Chief of the Army Staff of the Pakistan Army Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah in Islamabad on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/vr6ZhPrHLp

— IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) April 26, 2026

 The development comes a day after US President Donald Trump cancelled a planned visit to Pakistan by envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff for peace talks with Iran following the departure of the Iranian delegation from Islamabad on Saturday.

The Iranian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left Islamabad after holding high-level meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.

US envoy on Middle East Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner were expected to depart for Pakistan later in the day for talks involving Iranian interlocutors.

 Araghchi on Sunday returned to Islamabad to convey “Iran’s positions and views on the framework of any understanding to completely end the war,” according to the Iranian news agency ISNA.

عراقچی قرار است در ادامه رایزنی با مقامات پاکستانی، بعد از سفر به عمان امروز به اسلام‌آباد بازگردد؛ انتقال مواضع و دیدگاه‌های ایران راجع به چارچوب هرگونه تفاهم برای خاتمه کامل جنگ و برقراری صلح، از مهمترین دستور کار سفر دوباره عراقچی به پاکستان است. ۱/۲

— خبرگزاری ایسنا (@isna_farsi) April 26, 2026

The minister had already been in Islamabad only a day before, after which he traveled to Oman, while other Iranian envoys went to Tehran “to consult and obtain the necessary instructions on issues related to ending the war.”

This was Araghchi’s second meeting with Field Marshal Munir in as many day, who has emerged as a key figure in Pakistan’s mediation between the US and Iran.

TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH HIS SAUDI, FRENCH AND QATARI COUNTERPARTS

IRNA reported that Araghchi held separate telephone conversations with his Saudi, French and Qatari counterparts while flying from Muscat to Islamabad.

“Araqchi briefed the Saudi, Qatari and French Foreign Ministers on the objectives of his current visits and the consultations held to de-escalate tensions and completely stop the aggression imposed on Iran,” the news agency said.

Foreign Minister @araghchi and Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister @MBA_AlThani_ held a phone conversation on Sunday to exchange views on the latest regional developments and ongoing diplomatic efforts.https://t.co/OsUUO2LQet pic.twitter.com/RVew3wHnBA

— IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) April 26, 2026

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed regional developments and ongoing diplomatic processes in a telephonic conversation with his Saudi counterpart, Iran’s state media IRIB reports.

In a social media post on X, the IRIB said, “Iran’s FM Araghchi and Saudi FM Faisal held a phone call, discussing the latest regional developments and ongoing diplomatic processes.”

Iran’s FM Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Saudi FM Faisal bin Farhan held a phone call, discussing the latest regional developments and ongoing diplomatic processes. pic.twitter.com/RJMvfNgsJX

— IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) (@iribnews_irib) April 26, 2026

Before Saturday’s Iran-Pakistan meetings in Islamabad, the White House had announced that President Donald Trump’s peace envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were planning to leave for Pakistan to engage in further negotiations.

But Trump later told Fox News he had scrapped the trip, saying there was no point “sitting around talking about nothing” as he dismissed Tehran’s negotiating position.

Asked separately whether halting the trip meant a return to open hostilities, Trump said: “No, it doesn’t mean that. We haven’t thought about it yet.”

Although an indefinite ceasefire announced on April 21 has paused full-scale fighting in the conflict, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, no agreement has been reached on terms to end a war that has killed thousands, driven up oil prices, fueled inflation and darkened the outlook for global growth.

Tehran has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries a fifth of global oil shipments, while Washington has imposed a blockade of Iran’s ports.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Araghchi’s talks with Pakistani officials would include “implementing a new legal regime over the Strait of Hormuz, receiving compensation, guaranteeing no renewed military aggression by warmongers, and lifting the naval blockade.”

Cancellation of US representatives’ trip to Pakistan does not mean return to hostilities: Trump

US President Donald Trump has said that the cancellation of US representatives’ trip to Pakistan does not mean a return to hostilities with Iran, reports AFP.

“No, it doesn’t mean that. We haven’t thought about it yet,” he said.

Trump said that Iran could call if it wanted to negotiate an end to the war.

“If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us. You know, there is a telephone. We have nice, secure lines,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News’ ‘The Sunday Briefing.’