Iranian FM lands in Islamabad as US envoys to head to Pakistan on Saturday for peace talks

Seyed Abbas Aragchi arrived in Islamabad on Friday on a short but significant visit, with discussions expected to focus on regional tensions and ongoing diplomatic efforts for peace, according to the Foreign Office.

His aircraft landed at Nur Khan Airbase, where he was received by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Asim Munir, along with Reza Amiri Moqadam and officials from the Iranian embassy.

Aragchi is accompanied by a high-level delegation, with key meetings scheduled during his stay. He is also expected to call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as part of consultations with Pakistan’s leadership.

Officials said the visit is aimed at discussing the evolving regional situation, including tensions linked to Iran, the United States and Israel. Talks are also expected to cover the possibility of a second round of negotiations between Iran and the United States, potentially facilitated by Pakistan.

Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Friday that US Special Envoy on the Middle East Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law would be leaving for Pakistan on Saturday for a second round of talks with Iran.

“I confirm special envoy Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be off to Pakistan again tomorrow morning to engage in talks — direct talks — intermediated by the Pakistanis who have been incredible friends and mediators throughout this entire process, with representatives from the Iranian delegation,” she told Fox News.

“Everyone will be on standby to fly to Pakistan if necessary, but first, Steve and Jared will be going over there to report back to the president, the vice president and the rest of the team,” Leavitt said.

“The president, the vice president, the secretary of state, will be waiting here in the United States for updates, and the vice president, I understand, is on standby and will be willing to dispatch to Pakistan if we feel it’s a necessary use of his time,” she said.

“The Iranians reached out, as the president called on them to do, and asked for this in-person conversation,” she claimed.

“The president always wants to give diplomacy a chance. It’s always his first option, and he’s willing to do that here again,” Leavitt said.

She added that the US had seen some progress from the Iranian side in recent days and hoped more would be made in weekend talks.

Earlier, Pakistani sources said that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was expected to arrive in Islamabad tonight along with a small negotiating team. 

The sources said that a second round of peace talks with the United States was also expected. They added that a logistics and security team from the US was already in the federal capital.

On the other hand, while confirming the visit, Iran’s state media said that Araghchi would hold “bilateral consultations”. “Iran’s foreign minister will begin a regional tour on Friday evening, April 24, travelling to Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow,” the official IRNA news agency said.

“The purpose of this trip is to hold bilateral consultations, discuss ongoing developments in the region, and review the latest situation regarding the war imposed by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran,” it said. Araghchi himself, in a post on the social media platform X, said that he was embarking on a “timely tour” of Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow.

“The purpose of my visits is to closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments. Our neighbours are our priority,” he said. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is arriving in Islamabad tonight with a delegation after telephonic chat with Field Marshal General Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday. 

Meanwhile Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that he was embarking on his “timely” regional tour of Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow to “closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments”. “Our neighbours are our priority,” he adds in a post on X.

According to government sources, the second round of Islamabad peace talks is expected to be held as a result of important discussions are expected between the mediation teams of Iran and US. The US logistics and security team is already in Islamabad for the negotiation process. 

Iran state media confirmed that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi would travel on Friday to Pakistan, which has been mediating between the Islamic republic and the United States in a bid to end the Middle East war.

"Iran's Foreign Minister will begin a regional tour on Friday evening, April 24, travelling to Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow," the official IRNA news agency said, after a Pakistani official disclosed the visit. "The purpose of this trip is to hold bilateral consultations, discuss ongoing developments in the region, and review the latest situation regarding the war imposed by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran."

Islamabad has been gearing up for an anticipated second round of talks between the United States and Iran, but it was not clear whether Araghchi and the delegation accompanying him would meet any US officials to discuss the Middle East war.

Islamabad had a heavy security presence on Friday, with checkpoints around the city and road closures in the "red zone" surrounding the expected negotiation venue.

Pakistan has emerged as the lead mediator in efforts to end the US-Iran war, but following a marathon first session of talks on April 11 Tehran has so far declined to send a delegation to Islamabad for a second round.

It was not clear whether US Vice President JD Vance or other senior US administration officials were set to return to Pakistan, weeks after he announced he was leaving without a deal.

US logistics and security teams are present in Islamabad, the Pakistani official source said.

AFP journalists saw several US military aircraft landing at an airbase in nearby Rawalpindi earlier in the week.

Iran on Friday confirmed that Araghchi had held phone calls with Pakistan's powerful army chief Asim Munir as well as the country's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, both of whom played a key role in earlier mediation.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi held separate telephone conversations with his Pakistani counterpart Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir on Friday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

During the phone calls, Araghchi, Ishaq Dar and Munir exchanged their views on the latest developments in the region as well as issues concerning the ceasefire between Iran and the United States.

According to an Iranian news agency, Araghchi spoke individually Ishaq Dar, as well as Field Marshal Asim Munir. During the calls, the Iranian foreign minister exchanged views on the evolving regional situation and issues concerning a ceasefire.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office in Islamabad, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar received a call today from Foreign Minister of Iran Abbas Araghchi.

Both sides exchanged views on regional developments, the ceasefire, and ongoing diplomatic efforts being pursued by Islamabad in the context of US-Iran engagement.

Ishaq Dar underscored the importance of sustained dialogue and engagement to address outstanding issues, in order to advance regional peace and stability at the earliest.

FM Araghchi appreciated Pakistan’s consistent and constructive facilitation role in this regard, and both leaders agreed to remain in close contact.

DPM/FM Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 received a call today from Foreign Minister of Iran H.E. Abbas Araghchi @Araghchi.

Both sides exchanged views on regional developments, the ceasefire, and ongoing diplomatic efforts being pursued by Islamabad in the context of… pic.twitter.com/eJ1fuVTVKE

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 24, 2026

The development comes as Pakistan continues its diplomatic efforts to facilitate a ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

Pakistani leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Field Marshal Asim Munir, remain in contact with multiple countries, including the United States and Iran, as part of ongoing engagement on the matter.

While details of the conversations were not fully disclosed, the Iranian report said the talks focused on regional security dynamics and coordination on issues linked to de-escalation. Both sides reportedly emphasized the importance of continued diplomatic engagement to avoid further escalation.

Pakistan has been actively involved in diplomatic outreach efforts aimed at reducing tensions and facilitating dialogue between key regional and international actors

The latest contacts between Iranian and Pakistani leadership come at a time when diplomatic channels remain active amid fragile ceasefire arrangements and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty in the region.

The US and Israel had waged an unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on February 28 which led to the assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, high-ranking military commanders and civilians.  

On April 8, 40 days into the war, a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire went into effect.

US President Donald Trump unilaterally extended the truce, saying his administration will wait for an Iranian proposal for a second round of talks in Islamabad. However, Tehran has refrained from committing to a second round of negotiations, with authorities citing Washington’s excessive demands and “naval blockade” of Iran as two main impediments to concluding the war.

President Trump had however said that he hoped the second round may take place in Islamabad on Friday.

Field Marshal had recently visited Tehran and held talks with political and military leadership of Iran.

Asim Munir met Iran’s leadership and peace negotiators during a three-day visit to Tehran.

The visit demonstrated Pakistan’s “unwavering resolve to facilitate a negotiated settlement… and to promote peace, stability and prosperity,” the military said in a statement then.

Asim Munir held talks with Iran’s president, foreign minister, parliament speaker and head of Iran’s military central command centre.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led the Iranian delegation to Islamabad for peace talks with the US earlier, the highest-level face-to-face contact between Washington and Tehran in decades. Those talks ended without agreement. But diplomacy has continued, with Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye to push the peace process.

 Reporter Anwer Abbas/Agencies