Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi arrived in Islamabad on April 24 for high-level discussions aimed at reviving peace talks with the US, offering a tentative opening to end an eight-week conflict that has killed thousands and disrupted global energy markets.
The visit comes amid intensified diplomatic activity, with US President Donald Trump saying Iran is preparing an offer intended to meet Washington’s demands, though he did not specify its details.
“We’re dealing with the people that are in charge now,” Trump said, without naming counterparts.
However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry pushed back, stating on X that no meeting with US representatives is planned, despite reports that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were preparing to travel to Islamabad. Tehran said its positions would instead be conveyed through Pakistan.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt struck a more optimistic tone, saying the US had seen “some progress” from Iran in recent days and confirmed that Witkoff and Kushner would depart for Pakistan on April 25. Vice President JD Vance is also reportedly prepared to join talks.
Araqchi immediately met Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the Serena Hotel, the same venue used in earlier rounds of negotiations, according to government sources. Pakistan is playing a central mediating role, while Qatar’s emir has also expressed support for Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts in a call with Trump.
The renewed push for talks comes against the backdrop of escalating economic fallout. The conflict, triggered by US strikes and Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, has disrupted global oil flows, pushing US fuel prices to multi-year highs and keeping markets volatile.
Only a handful of vessels have passed through the Strait in the past 24 hours compared to around 130 daily before the conflict, underscoring the severity of the disruption.
Despite diplomatic momentum, significant gaps remain. Iran has tied any broader negotiations to a ceasefire in Lebanon, where parallel fighting continues between Israel and Hezbollah, while both sides trade accusations over ongoing violations.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran still has a “window to choose wisely”, reiterating Washington’s demand for verifiable limits on its nuclear programme.
With ceasefire talks delayed, military tensions unresolved, and energy markets on edge, the Islamabad discussions are emerging as a critical, but uncertain, test of whether diplomacy can regain traction.
