Iran says no direct talks with US in Islamabad are planned

Iran has said that no direct talks with US in Islamabad are planned. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmael Baqaei said on X that “No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the U.S.” Instead, Baqaei said Pakistani officials would convey messages between the delegations. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on Friday with a senior delegation.Despite the uncertainty, Pakistani officials said efforts are underway to facilitate a second round of dialogue. Islamabad has been quietly working behind the scenes to bring both sides back to the negotiating table, with its role as a mediator gaining traction in recent weeks.
"Iran has made no request for talks with the Americans and, on the contrary, has so far completely rejected US requests for negotiations due to their excessive demands," the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News 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.
The United States is also preparing diplomatic outreach, with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner expected to arrive in Islamabad for discussions. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the development, stating that talks would be conducted directly but facilitated by Pakistan. She added that Vice President JD Vance would remain engaged from Washington, coordinating with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the national security team.
Qatar's Emir ‌Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed developments in the Washington-Tehran ceasefire agreement in a phone call with US President Donald Trump, Qatar's state news agency reported late on Friday. The Qatari ⁠leader said his country would continue coordinating with partners to support mediation efforts led by Pakistan. Islamabad was the planned venue for US-Iran talks that failed to materialize earlier this week.