Tehran: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi labeled his recent Islamabad trip “very productive,” citing in-depth “good consultations” with Pakistan’s senior leaders on advancing Iran-US discussions to halt the war.
Speaking upon his Monday morning arrival in St. Petersburg, Russia, Araghchi shared insights from the visit. “We held good consultations with our friends in Pakistan. The trip was successful. We assessed the outcome of our recent (meetings) and discussed in what direction and under what conditions talks can move on,” he stated in a Telegram video, as reported by Iran’s IRNA news agency.
Pakistan Talks Succeed Amid US Stalemate
Araghchi confirmed last week’s Islamabad meetings as “successful,” focusing on the trajectory for a second round of Iran-US negotiations. The initial talks on April 11-12 fell short “due to the Americans’ approach, the excessive demands they made, and the wrong approaches they adopted,” he explained.
“Developments have taken place in the negotiations. Despite some progress in earlier rounds, the talks failed to reach their objectives… Therefore, it was necessary to consult with our friends in Pakistan to review the latest situation,” Araghchi added.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted Araghchi’s upcoming meeting with President Vladimir Putin, describing the Pakistan visit as a prime chance to assess the US-Israeli war against Iran. He voiced optimism that “these consultations and coordination between the two countries will be highly significant”.
Oman-Russia Diplomacy Accelerates
The minister’s Islamabad stop was his second in three days, including a Sunday meeting with Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir before heading to Russia. He had arrived from Oman, where talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said covered Strait of Hormuz security and de-escalation efforts.
“It is only natural that, as two coastal countries bordering this strait, we should stay in close contact to safeguard our shared interests and coordinate any actions related to it, especially since the interests of Iran and Oman are directly involved in this matter,” Araghchi remarked.
