Iran held firm in its claim that its foreign minister Abbas Araghchi would not meet with US negotiators for a second round of talks during his Saturday visit to Pakistan — throwing the viability of future negotiations into question.
Mr Araghchi and the Iranian delegation left for the airport shortly before 6pm local time after holding meetings with primary Pakistani mediators Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed on Friday that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would leave the US for “direct talks” with Tehran in Pakistan on Saturday.
She told reporters that Vice President JD Vance would essentially be on “standby.”
“According to my understanding, Vice President JD Vance will not go, at least not for the time being… The Iranians reached out, as the President asked them to do, and requested this direct dialogue. So, the President is sending Steve and Jared to listen to what they have to say”’ she explained.
However, Iranian state media said direct negotiations were not on the cards. It’s understood Mr Araghchi left Islamabad before the US officials touched down.
Earlier, a spokesman for Iran’s defence ministry claimed the US “is looking for a face-saving way to escape the war quagmire it has become trapped in”.
Iran’s military also warned it would respond if the US maintains its blockade of Iranian ports, calling it “banditry”.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes on Saturday in the country’s south killed four people, despite a ceasefire that was extended this week in the war between Israel and militant group Hezbollah.
US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon which began on April 17 had been extended for three weeks.
