Iranian Foreign Minister Meets Pakistani Military Chief, Discusses Potential Dialogue with US

Iranian Foreign Minister (FM) Abbas Araghchi held a meeting with Pakistan’s Chief of the Armed Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, while in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, on Saturday (25/4) local time. The meeting took place amid Pakistan’s efforts to mediate and revive the stalled peace negotiations between Iran and the United States (US) to permanently end the war. According to a short video uploaded by the Iranian Embassy via social media platform X, as reported by Anadolu Agency on Saturday (25/4/2026), the meeting was also attended by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the national security adviser and head of the Inter-Services Intelligence, Lieutenant General Asim Malik, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, and Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam. Although the Iranian Embassy did not provide further detailed information, Pakistani sources told Anadolu that both sides discussed matters related to the potential second round of talks between Tehran and Washington in the coming days. Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on Friday (24/4) evening, with Baghaei stating that the visit was intended to meet directly with senior Pakistani officials, not with a US delegation. He noted that the meeting would discuss proposals to restart peace negotiations with the US, after previous talks ended without any agreement. “No meeting is planned between Iran and the US. Iran’s observations will be conveyed to Pakistan,” Baghaei said in his statement. The first round of US-Iran peace negotiations was held in Islamabad last week but failed to reach an agreement. The talks were held after Pakistan mediated a two-week ceasefire that took effect from 8 April, which was later unilaterally extended by US President Donald Trump. In Islamabad, Araghchi will also hold talks with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Previously, the White House stated that US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US adviser Jared Kushner, who is also President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, would fly to Pakistan on Saturday (25/4) local time for talks with Iran. Iran has refused direct talks with the US and stated that its concerns will be conveyed to Pakistan.