This handout photograph launched by the Iranian Overseas Ministry on April 25, 2026 exhibits Pakistan’s Military Chief and Area Marshal Syed Asim Munir (third R) assembly with Iran’s Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi (third L) upon his arrival in Islamabad. (Picture by Iranian Overseas Ministry / AFP through Getty Photographs) / XGTY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / Iranian Overseas Ministry” – HANDOUT – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
– | Afp | Getty Photographs
Iranian Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi met with the head of Pakistan’s army, Asim Munir, the Iranian embassy in Pakistan mentioned in a submit on X on Saturday, as prospects for a second spherical of direct talks over the weekend between Iran and the U.S. appeared unsure.
A senior Iranian official mentioned his authorities’s representatives don’t have any plans to satisfy with senior U.S. negotiators headed to Pakistan for talks.
“No assembly is deliberate to happen between Iran and the U.S. Iran’s observations could be conveyed to Pakistan,” Iranian Overseas Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei mentioned in a submit on X late Friday.
Additionally on Friday, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will head to Pakistan on Saturday morning to interact in “direct talks” with their Iranian counterparts.
“The Iranians reached out” and requested for an in-person dialog, as President Donald Trump had requested them to do, Leavitt mentioned on Fox Information.
“So the president is dispatching Steve and Jared to go hear what they must say, and we’re hopeful that will probably be a productive dialog and hopefully transfer the ball ahead in the direction of a deal,” she mentioned.
Vice President JD Vance, who led a previous U.S. delegation to Islamabad for an preliminary spherical of negotiations with Iran, won’t be attending this weekend’s talks, Leavitt mentioned.
Trump advised Reuters in a cellphone name later Friday that Iran will likely be “making a suggestion,” including that he didn’t know what it will be but and “we’ll must see.”
Araghchi, earlier Friday mentioned he was “embarking on a well timed tour” of Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow with a purpose to “carefully coordinate with our companions on bilateral issues and seek the advice of on regional developments.”
The Islamabad talks will likely be “intermediated by the Pakistanis,” Leavitt mentioned within the Fox interview.
The primary spherical of peace talks, held two weeks in the past in Islamabad and led on the U.S. facet by Vance, ended with no deal.
A U.S. delegation together with Vance was anticipated to go again to Pakistan earlier this week for additional negotiations, however the journey was delayed as Iranian officers reportedly mentioned they’d not present up.
A lot of the mutual prickliness has centered on the Strait of Hormuz, the most important oil-shipping route that has seen visitors sluggish to a trickle amid Iranian threats and, as of final week, a retaliatory U.S. naval blockade.
Trump, within the Reuters interview, mentioned the U.S. won’t carry its blockade of Iranian ports till a deal is struck.
Oil waiver
The U.S. can be sustaining different types of financial strain on Tehran.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent advised The Related Press on Friday that the U.S. doesn’t plan to resume a one-time waiver permitting the acquisition of Iranian oil at sea.
“Not the Iranians,” Bessent mentioned. “We’ve got the blockade, and there isn’t any oil popping out.”
“And we predict within the subsequent two, three days, they will have to begin shuttering manufacturing, which will likely be very unhealthy for his or her wells.”
Bessent additionally mentioned the U.S. doesn’t plan to resume a waiver permitting the acquisition of Russian oil and petroleum merchandise which are at the moment at sea, in keeping with the AP.
In the meantime, the U.S. mentioned it has sanctioned Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co., Ltd., an impartial “teapot” oil refinery in China, for purchasing Iranian oil merchandise.
“China-based impartial teapot refineries proceed to play an important position in sustaining Iran’s oil financial system, and Hengli is considered one of Iran’s largest clients for crude oil and different petroleum merchandise, having bought billions of {dollars}’ price of Iranian petroleum,” the Treasury Division mentioned in a assertion.
The tensions have additional strained an already-fragile ceasefire, which was introduced April 7 amid threats by Trump that Iran’s “complete civilization will die” except a deal is struck.
Regardless of the continued stress within the strait, Trump on Tuesday unilaterally prolonged the ceasefire shortly earlier than it was set to run out.
After the battle began on Feb. 28, the Trump administration repeatedly mentioned that it anticipated operations to be temporary and to conclude inside 4 to 6 weeks.
Since passing that deadline, the administration has reframed its timeline, whereas stressing that prior U.S. conflicts have lasted far longer.
“Not like the infinite wars of the previous that dragged on for years and for many years with little to indicate for it, Operation Epic Fury has delivered a decisive army lead to simply weeks,” Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned at a press briefing Friday morning.
– Reuters and The Related Press contributed to this report.
