Tehran: Araghchi conveyed Iran's demands and reservations toward Washington to Pakistan

Iran's Foreign Ministry announced that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi briefed Pakistani officials on Tehran's demands in negotiations and its reservations about American demands, during his meeting with Pakistan's army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.

The Foreign Ministry clarified that Araghchi discussed during a meeting with Munir "cooperation to enhance peace and stability in the region" and added that Araghchi "values the efforts of Pakistan's government and army chief in pushing toward a ceasefire and ending the war."

Araghchi had arrived in Islamabad last night leading an Iranian delegation that includes Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharib Abadi, and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei.

Baghaei wrote on X platform: "During this visit, Foreign Minister Dr. Araghchi will hold consultations with senior Pakistani officials regarding mediation efforts and the noble endeavors to end the war."

Araghchi's visit is part of a tour that includes Moscow and Oman.

In parallel, Washington announced that it had sent envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for talks with the Iranian delegation, in the absence of Vice President JD Vance. The White House attributed Vance's non-participation to Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf not attending the negotiations.

Despite US President Donald Trump's extension of the ceasefire with Iran, the negotiations have not registered any tangible progress in recent days.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt had said that "Iranians want to talk directly, and the President is always willing to give diplomacy a chance," expressing hope for progress at the upcoming meeting, and pointing to what she described as "positive signals" from the Iranian side in recent days.

Araghchi's tour: On Friday evening, the Iranian Foreign Minister announced the beginning of a tour including Pakistan, Oman, and Russia, saying: "The goal of these visits is close coordination with our partners on bilateral issues and consultations on regional developments. Our neighbors are our priority."

Iran's state broadcasting authority reported on Saturday that Araghchi delivered a written response from Tehran to Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir during their meeting in Islamabad.

According to the Iranian agency's report, the Iranian response was described as "comprehensive" and contains various positions of Tehran regarding the proposals submitted by Islamabad aimed at reaching a peace formula with the United States.