No talks with US during FM's Islamabad visit, observations to be conveyed to Pakistan: FM spox

Iran's foreign ministry has confirmed that no meeting is planned with the United States in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, during an ongoing visit by a delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Spokesman Esmail Baghaei made the remarks in a post on X on Saturday, through which he announced the arrival of the delegation.

During the visit, he added, "Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan."

"FM Araghchi will be meeting with Pakistani high-level officials in concert with their ongoing mediation & good offices for ending American-imposed war of aggression and the restitution of peace in our region," the spokesman concluded.

Earlier, Tasnim News Agency refuted an earlier report by CNN alleging that the top diplomat would be holding talks with US officials during the visit, which is to be followed by trips to the Omani capital Muscat and the Russian capital Moscow.

CNN had claimed that Donald Trump intended to send regional envoy Steve Witkoff as well as the US president's son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner to Pakistan for "negotiations with Araghchi."

Commenting on the report, Tasnim wrote, "This is despite the fact that, at present, no negotiations with the Americans are on the agenda at all, and Mr. Araghchi’s trip to Islamabad is not for talks with the United States."

Rather, the foreign minister will discuss with the Pakistani side Iran’s considerations regarding cessation of unprovoked aggression against the Islamic Republic, the agency added.

It noted how Araghchi, himself, has officially stated that the purpose of these visits was close coordination with partners on "bilateral" issues and consultation on regional developments.

However, "US officials and media outlets have, for more than 10 days, been fabricating narratives about a new round of negotiations, with several false reports being published almost daily regarding the start of talks," Tasnim wrote.

"In one of the most unusual cases, US media and officials claimed for more than three days that JD Vance, Trump’s vice president, was on his way, yet he never arrived at the destination!"

Iran and the United States held a first round of talks in Islamabad earlier this month. However, the process stopped short of yielding an agreement amid Washington's maximalist demands and its insistence on its unreasonable positions.

The Islamic Republic has categorically refused to rejoin the process unless the US lifted an illegal blockade it has imposed on Iranian vessels and ports. Tehran has also asserted that, as long as the blockade is still in place, it has no intention of reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz that it has shut down to all traffic in retaliation.

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