Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly receives Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during a meeting in Islamabad. Photo: application
ISLAMABAD:
Despite no immediate prospects for direct talks between Iran and the United States, diplomacy remains very much alive, as a flurry of behind-the-scenes activity suggests a serious desire to seek a permanent end to the war, it was reported Sunday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi returned to Islamabad after spending several hours in Muscat, Oman as part of his ongoing diplomatic engagements. Araghchi flew to Muscat on a Pakistani plane, while members of his delegation returned to Tehran for consultations with their countries’ leaders.
Upon his return, his team regrouped in Islamabad to continue discussions with the Pakistani authorities. Significantly, sources said Araghchi met Pakistan Army Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir soon after his arrival from Oman as part of consultations on efforts to defuse regional tensions.
According to Iranian media, Araghchi also distributed written messages outlining Tehran’s position on key issues, including its “nuclear red lines” and the Strait of Hormuz. The communication, the officials said, was not part of formal negotiations but an effort to clearly express Iran’s position as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts.
After a brief stopover in Islamabad, Araghchi is expected to travel to Moscow, where he will meet Russian authorities, including President Vladimir Putin. Russia, a close ally of Iran, has already offered to help resolve problems with Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpiles.
What has emerged so far is that several countries in the region are now actively involved in diplomatic efforts. After returning from Oman, the Iranian foreign minister also held separate contacts with his Qatari and Saudi counterparts in what is seen as an attempt to develop a broader regional framework ahead of any potential deal between Tehran and Washington.
Gulf countries, which have been directly affected by the Iran-US-Israel conflict, both through attacks and the fallout on energy markets, are keen to have their concerns taken into account in any future deal.
Turkey is also playing an active role in de-escalation efforts, with its foreign minister engaging U.S. negotiators as well as his Iranian and Omani counterparts to discuss the evolving situation.
Pakistan continues to remain at the center of these diplomatic maneuvers. Even though the week-long security lockdown in Islamabad has now been lifted, the possibility of possible direct negotiations between the United States and Iran cannot be ruled out.
There appears to be a deliberate effort to keep the discussions secret, as excessive media attention is seen as counterproductive. Even though the United States canceled plans to send its negotiating team to Islamabad, President Donald Trump’s message remained cautiously open.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said the war with Iran would end soon and signaled that Washington was still open to engagement, saying: “If the Iranians want to talk, they can contact us.”
Trump again praised Pakistan’s efforts in the peace talks, saying he had “great respect” for Pakistan. “Great respect for Pakistan, but I will, because they have been great. They have really tried and they will stay involved,” he said.
Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, in an article on X, also praised Pakistan’s peace efforts. He said Araghchi’s regional diplomatic tour was aimed at reviewing bilateral relations with Pakistan as well as holding consultations on the issue of regional developments.
“I would like to express my sincere and unreserved gratitude and appreciation to the Government, Army and people of Pakistan, especially to HE Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, for their untiring efforts and good offices initiative to end the war and bring lasting peace to the region,” he wrote.
“Here, I express my sincere gratitude to the army staffs, security forces, police, employees of all executive institutions and especially to the people of Pakistan and residents of Islamabad, for their patience, hospitality and synergy of cooperation during this period. Iran-Pakistan Zindabad friendship.”
Despite the absence of direct talks yet, Trump has indicated no intention to resume hostilities or end the ceasefire, reinforcing the sense that space is being preserved for diplomacy. Diplomatic sources said that given the high stakes, both in terms of world peace and the economy, neither side wants a return to conflict.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, for his part, declared by telephone to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that Tehran would not enter into “imposed negotiations” under threat or under a blockade, according to a statement from the Iranian government. He said the United States would first have to remove obstacles, including its maritime blockade, before negotiators could begin laying the groundwork for a settlement.
There is also a growing view that the decision to maintain the ceasefire indefinitely is part of a broader vision to give diplomacy sufficient time to deal with complex issues. It is evident that the next round of negotiations between Iran and the United States could take place once broader issues are resolved through back channels.
In related news, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that movement restrictions around Serena Hotel and Islamabad’s red zone have been lifted. He thanked the people of Pakistan, especially the people of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, for their patience and cooperation, saying their support had helped ensure the safety of visiting delegations and facilitate the ongoing peace efforts.
(WITH NEWS DESK ENTRY)
