Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, in Islamabad on Saturday, as Tehran engaged regional partners ahead of a planned visit by U.S. envoys seeking to revive stalled negotiations over the war and Iran’s nuclear program.
Video footage and a statement posted on Araghchi’s Telegram channel showed the Iranian delegation holding talks with Munir on April 25, with Pakistan having positioned itself as a key intermediary between Washington and Tehran, amid ongoing military tensions.
The outreach comes after weeks of escalation triggered by coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate by effectively blocking the Strait of Hormuz—a critical artery for global oil and gas shipments. The disruption has sharply reduced vessel traffic through the chokepoint, roiling energy markets and raising fears of prolonged supply shocks.
Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, told CNBC the situation represents the “biggest energy security threat” the world has ever seen, with some 13 million barrels per day of oil lost and “major disruptions” in key commodities like fertilizer, highlighting the global stakes of the conflict.
Amid renewed hopes for a diplomatic settlement to the war, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the Iranian delegation’s arrival late Friday, posting images from the tarmac welcoming Araghchi alongside senior Pakistani officials.
“Look forward to our meaningful engagements aimed at promoting regional peace and stability,” Dar wrote on X.
Araghchi had earlier described his trip—part of a broader regional tour including Oman and Russia—as aiming to “closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments,” without mentioning any plans for direct talks with U.S. officials.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said no meeting was scheduled with the United States, adding that Tehran’s views would instead be conveyed through Pakistani channels.
US Envoys Head to Pakistan
The diplomatic push comes as the White House confirmed Friday that Witkoff and Kushner will travel to Pakistan on Saturday to potentially engage Iranian officials, following what U.S. officials described as a request from Tehran.“Ultimately, the goal of Operation Epic Fury was to ensure that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon, and we’ve now transitioned into this diplomatic phase to get that done through the means of a deal,” she said.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who has led negotiations, will remain in Washington but is prepared to travel if talks advance, Leavitt added.
President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran was preparing to submit a proposal addressing U.S. demands.
“They’re making an offer, and we’ll have to see,” Trump told Reuters.
War Pressure and Maritime Disruptions
The renewed diplomatic activity comes against the backdrop of an escalating U.S. pressure campaign targeting Iran’s economy and military capabilities, including a widening naval blockade of vessels linked to Iranian ports.U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said this week that at least 34 ships had been turned back under the blockade, which Washington says is aimed at cutting off Tehran’s oil revenues and supply networks.
Katz said the aims of the potential military operation would include further decimating Iran’s leadership and crippling the country’s critical infrastructure.