Tehran, 25 April (H.S.):

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei affirmed on Saturday that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to Islamabad focuses solely on bilateral consultations with Pakistani officials, explicitly ruling out any direct engagement with United States representatives amid efforts to end the ongoing conflict.

In a statement posted on X early Saturday, Baqaei outlined the diplomatic itinerary: “We arrive in Islamabad, Pakistan, for an official visit. FM Araghchi will be meeting with Pakistani high-level officials in concert with their ongoing mediation & good offices for ending American imposed war of aggression and the restitution of peace in our region. No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the U.S. Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan.”

This clarification underscores Tehran’s strategy of indirect communication through Pakistan, which has positioned itself as a key mediator in the US-Iran standoff following inconclusive Islamabad talks on April 11-12.

Araghchi’s arrival, accompanied by spokesperson Ismaeel Buqai, precedes expected meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Gen Syed Asim Munir, building on prior high-level delegations including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Pakistan’s role remains pivotal, with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar having recently engaged Araghchi telephonically to advance regional de-escalation. Tehran frames the war as an “American-imposed aggression,” aligning with its demands for blockade cessation before substantive negotiations, even as White House officials report exploratory progress and dispatch envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Iran’s maneuver preserves leverage while sustaining diplomatic channels, amid heightened US naval deployments and ceasefire strains in Lebanon and Gaza.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar