Iranian FM Araghchi expected to arrive in Islamabad tonight, Pakistani sources say

Lead

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad again on Sunday, April 26, 2026, as Pakistan's political and military leadership moved to sustain momentum toward a ceasefire between Tehran and Washington. The visit came after a weekend of rapid developments, including a round of talks in the Pakistani capital, the last-minute cancellation of a planned US envoy trip, and continued disagreements over key sticking points.

Araghchi had left Islamabad late Saturday, creating uncertainty about the prospects for a second round of direct negotiations, but returned to the city before continuing on to Moscow, according to Iranian state media cited by The Hindu. His brief stopover in Oman, a country that previously mediated between the two sides, added another layer to the diplomatic maneuvering.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from Dawn and The Hindu offered complementary but not identical accounts of the weekend's events. Dawn's multiple articles, based on Pakistani official and diplomatic sources, focused heavily on the sequence of Araghchi's meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, as well as the status of the US team. The Hindu's report, published Sunday evening, concentrated on the confusion caused by Araghchi's departure and his return, suggesting that Pakistan's leadership was "scrambling" to keep the process on track.

The two outlets differed in emphasis: Dawn consistently presented the situation as fluid but with active diplomatic engagement, while The Hindu framed the events as a race to prevent the talks from collapsing. Both relied on official statements and state media, with Dawn incorporating direct quotes from officials and The Hindu offering a more condensed narrative.

Key Claims

The core facts of the visit are consistent across reports. Araghchi arrived in Islamabad late on Friday, April 24, and was received by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and CDF Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to the Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, as reported by Dawn. The Iranian delegation included a small negotiating team, and a US logistics and security team was already present in the capital, Pakistani sources told Dawn.

During his stay, Araghchi met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and CDF Munir in separate sessions. A Pakistani source involved in the talks told Reuters that Araghchi conveyed Tehran's negotiating demands and its reservations about US positions. In a statement on his official Telegram account, Araghchi said he had "explained our country's principled positions regarding the latest developments related to the ceasefire and the complete end of the imposed war against Iran," as reported by Dawn.

Prime Minister Sharif described the meeting as a "most warm, cordial exchange of views on the current regional situation," according to state-run Pakistan TV. Deputy PM Dar said the meeting lasted "approximately two hours." Araghchi also held a separate meeting with CDF Munir, which state media said covered "matters of mutual interest and the overall regional situation."

Araghchi's visit was part of a three-country tour that also included Oman and Russia. Before departing Tehran, he posted on X that the purpose of his visits was to "closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments. Our neighbours are our priority," as cited by Dawn. Iranian state media IRNA framed the trip as part of a regional tour to hold "bilateral consultations" and review the situation regarding "the war imposed by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran," a characterization not echoed by US or Pakistani officials.

Perspectives

Washington's Stance

The weekend saw a notable shift in US messaging. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would travel to Pakistan on Saturday for a second round of talks, which she said would be "intermediated by the Pakistanis, who have been incredible friends and mediators throughout this entire process." She added that "the Iranians reached out, as the president called on them to do, and asked for this in-person conversation," and that the president "always wants to give diplomacy a chance."

However, shortly after Araghchi's departure from Islamabad, President Donald Trump cancelled the envoys' trip. In an interview with Fox News, he said he had told his team, "you're not making an 18-hour flight to go there. We have all the cards." He also stated that Iran "cannot have a nuclear weapon, otherwise there's no reason to meet," but when asked by Axios whether cancelling the visit meant he would resume the war, he responded, "No. It doesn't mean that. We haven't thought about it yet."

Trump nonetheless expressed appreciation for Pakistan's role, saying he had "great respect for Pakistan" and that Islamabad would remain involved. He indicated that talks would continue "by telephone."

Tehran's Stance

Iranian officials have been more circumspect about the prospects for direct talks. Araghchi's spokesperson, Baqaei, clarified that "no meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US. Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan," as reported by Dawn. An Iranian official speaking on background to Dawn said negotiations would remain on hold unless Iran's conditions were met, particularly the lifting of the US naval blockade.

Araghchi's meetings in Islamabad were described by Pakistani officials as an opportunity to convey Tehran's formal response to US proposals, which had been handed over the previous week by Field Marshal Munir during a visit to Tehran. After leaving Islamabad, Araghchi traveled to Muscat, where he met with Omani leadership, and then returned to Islamabad before proceeding to Moscow, according to Iranian state media. He also held phone calls with his counterparts from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaking to both Araghchi and US negotiators, according to Anadolu and Reuters.

Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, thanked the Pakistani leadership for their "tireless efforts and good office initiative to end the war and bring lasting peace to the region," in a tweet cited by Dawn.

Pakistan's Role

Pakistan has positioned itself as a key intermediary. Deputy PM Dar stressed the importance of "sustained dialogue and engagement" in his phone call with Araghchi, and the Foreign Office said both sides exchanged views on "regional developments, the ceasefire, and ongoing diplomatic efforts being pursued by Islamabad in the context of US-Iran engagement." Dar also spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who appreciated Pakistan's constructive role, according to Dawn.

Following Araghchi's departure, Deputy PM Dar announced the end of restrictions on citizens' movement around the Serena Hotel and red zone in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, thanking residents for their patience. Two US Air Force C-17s carrying security staff flew out of Pakistan, according to two Pakistani government sources who spoke to Reuters.

Broader Context

The broader picture remains tense. The ceasefire, brokered around April 7-8, is holding on paper but has been extended without a defined timeline. The first round of direct US-Iran talks, held in Islamabad on April 11-12, ended after more than 20 hours without an agreement but without a breakdown. Core disputes remain over the naval blockade, nuclear restrictions, and the sequencing of concessions.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had no intention of lifting the Strait of Hormuz blockade, calling it part of the "definitive strategy of Islamic Iran," and warned of a "hellish storm" in the event of renewed aggression, according to a statement on Telegram cited by Dawn. Meanwhile, US Central Command said it had intercepted a merchant vessel from a 19-vessel "shadow fleet" and that 37 ships had been redirected since the blockade began. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Trump discussed the need to restore shipping in the Strait, with Starmer sharing progress on a joint initiative with French President Emmanuel Macron, according to Downing Street.

US media reports suggested that lead Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had resigned, but the Iranian parliament's communications section denied this, saying he had not resigned and did not travel to Pakistan because negotiations had not been scheduled. US officials indicated Vice President JD Vance was on standby but would not immediately join Witkoff and Kushner, citing the absence of an Iranian counterpart.

As of Sunday, the situation remains fluid. Araghchi's return to Islamabad and his subsequent trip to Moscow suggest that diplomatic channels remain open, but the path to a second round of direct talks is still unclear. Both sides continue to signal willingness to engage, while also laying down conditions that have yet to be reconciled.