ISLAMABAD: An Iranian delegation headed by the Foreign Minister of Iran, Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Islamabad on Friday.
The Iranian Foreign Minister was received by Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, along with other senior officials upon arrival.
During the visit, the Iranian Foreign Minister will hold meetings with Pakistan’s senior leadership to discuss the latest regional developments as well as ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability.
Islamabad has been gearing up for an anticipated second round of talks between the US and Iran, but it was not clear whether Araghchi and the delegation accompanying him would meet any US officials to discuss the Middle East war.
Reuters quoted Pakistani sources as saying that Araghchi was not slated to meet US negotiators in Islamabad, while White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner would leave for Pakistan “Saturday morning” for talks with the Iranian officials. DPM Dar said Araghchi would meet with senior Pakistani officials to discuss the peace efforts, Reuters added.
Iranian state media reported that Araghchi will later on depart for Oman and Moscow visits.
“The purpose of this visit is to hold bilateral consultations, and discuss current developments in the region, as well as the latest situation in the war imposed by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran,” the state news agency IRNA said.
Araghchi wrote on X that he was visiting Pakistan, Oman and Russia to coordinate with partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments, adding that Iran’s neighbours remained Tehran’s priority.
A Pakistani official told Axios that the meeting with Araghchi will focus on relaunching negotiations with the Trump administration. “A trilateral meeting with the US will be assessed after our meeting with Araghchi,” the Pakistani official said. IRNA said Araghchi would convey Iran’s position about the current state of the war.
According to a private news channel report, before announcing a visit to Pakistan, Oman and Russia, Araghchi held a telephone conversation with Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. In their talk, Araghchi and Dar discussed regional issues and a ceasefire. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a post on X that Araghchi also held separate phone conversations with the DPM and Field Marshal Asim Munir.
The Foreign Office said on Friday that DPM Ishaq Dar held a phone conversation with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during which the two discussed the US-Iran ceasefire and Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic efforts.
In a post on X, the Foreign Office of Pakistan stated that both sides reviewed regional developments, the ceasefire situation, and Islamabad’s diplomatic engagement in the context of US-Iran relations. Dar stressed the need for continued dialogue and engagement to resolve outstanding issues and promote regional peace and stability as quickly as possible.
Araghchi appreciated Pakistan’s consistent and constructive role in facilitating dialogue between the parties. The FO added that both leaders agreed to stay in close contact moving forward.
Later, Ishaq Dar talked to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and briefed him about his recent contact with Iranian FM.
PM Shehbaz, while terming arrival of Iranian delegation a significant development, said Pakistan was active in bringing both sides to negotiating table again. The PM said Pakistan would further activate its role for defusing tension in the region confidence building and moving ahead the talks process.
Separately, a US official told Reuters earlier on Friday that President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner will travel to Pakistan soon for talks with Iran’s foreign minister.
Vice President JD Vance is not currently planning to attend but he will be on standby to travel to Islamabad if negotiations progress, according to CNN, which first recorded the travel plans.
Reports on Araghchi’s trip in Iranian state media and the Pakistani sources made no mention of Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, who was the head of its delegation at the talks earlier this month.
The Iranian parliament’s media office denied a report that Qalibaf had resigned as head of Iran’s negotiating team, and added that there was no new round of talks scheduled yet.
Meanwhile, Ishaq Dar Friday held a telephonic conversation with the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov. Reiterating the importance of maintaining regular high-level engagements, both sides discussed rescheduling of the visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Russia at an early mutually convenient date. The DPM/FM also extended an invitation to FM Lavrov to visit Pakistan, a DPM’s Office news release said.
The two leaders discussed bilateral relations and cooperation at multilateral fora in support of international peace and security. FM Lavrov appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States. The DPM/FM underscored Pakistan’s resolve to continue contributing to efforts aimed at promoting dialogue and diplomacy to resolve all issues. Both sides agreed to remain in touch. The law-enforcement agencies were placed on high alert in the federal capital following reports of the arrival of Iranian and American delegations for a second round of peace talks.
A senior security official overseeing arrangements for the visiting delegations said that security personnel remain fully committed to their duties despite challenging conditions, ensuring the safety of all participants and the smooth conduct of the negotiations. The capital has been placed under extraordinary security, with over 18,000 personnel deployed across the city, including Islamabad Police and additional law-enforcement units. Entry into the Red Zone has been strictly restricted to authorized individuals only.
A comprehensive multi-agency security plan has been put in place to maintain law and order during the high-stakes talks. The deployment includes reinforcements from provincial police forces, as well as personnel from the Pakistan Rangers and the Frontier Constabulary, working alongside Islamabad Capital Territory Police. As part of heightened security measures and in line with austerity protocols, educational institutions, government offices, and courts in the capital remained closed. A large number of deployed personnel have been stationed at key locations, including the Hajj Complex, Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex, Police Line Headquarters, and various police stations.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, in a post on X, said no meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US, Iran’s observations would be conveyed to Pakistan.
