IranianForeign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has leftIslamabadwithout meeting the US envoys, who are yet to arrive in Pakistan, to participate in the second round of peace talks, the Associated Press reported, quoting two Pakistani officials. Araghchi had arrived in Islamabad earlier today and was expected to hold negotiations with the US delegation led by special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The White House had confirmed that both - Witkoff and Kushner - would lead the talks in Islamabad, but their arrival had since then awaited.
Meanwhile, Araghchi, who was already present in Pakistan, held talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir and conveyed Iran's concerns on the evolving situation in the Middle East. As per reports, the Iranian delegation had conveyed that they would not be engaging in direct negotiations with the US team.
Now, since Araghchi has already left Islamabad, according to Pakistani officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, it is unclear when President Donald Trump’s envoys Witkoff and Kushner will arrive in Islamabad or if they have even left Washington, D.C. The White House declined to comment on Saturday.
An open-ended ceasefire has paused most fighting, but the economic fallout grows with global shipments of oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizer and other supplies disrupted by the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier today, Araghchi wrote on Telegram saying that they spoke about regional developments, including Iran's red lines for negotiations. He didn’t offer details but said Tehran would continue engaging with Pakistan's mediation efforts “until a result is achieved.”
In another development, Iran resumed commercial flights from Tehran’s international airport for the first time since the war began with U.S. and Israeli strikes two months ago. Flights were scheduled to depart for Istanbul, Oman’s capital of Muscat and the Saudi city of Medina, according to Iran’s state-run television. Iran partly reopened its airspace earlier this month due to the ceasefire.
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