ISLAMABAD — Tehran 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 Islamabad — throwing into question the future potential of negotiations.
Abbas and the Iranian delegation left for the airport shortly before 6 p.m. 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.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi meets Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in Islamabad, Pakistan, in this screengrab taken from a video released April 25, 2026. via REUTERS So far, the White House has not responded to requests for comment about whether the trip is still on or what time they would leave.
Iran continues to publicly claim they have no round two talks planned with the US.
