ISLAMABAD, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi is about to visit Pakistan for talks with Islamabad's mediation team, while Washington also said that key negotiators will pay a visit to Pakistan, raising speculation of the revival of the stalled second round of U.S.-Iran talks.
Iran's official IRNA news agency reported that Araghchi will visit Pakistan, Oman and Russia starting Friday evening, with Islamabad as the first stop, adding he is expected to discuss bilateral issues, regional developments and the latest situation surrounding what Tehran described as the "imposed war by the United States and the Israeli regime" against Iran.
Pakistani government sources told Xinhua that Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad late Friday or early Saturday with a small team, as Pakistan intensifies efforts to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran and facilitate a second round of peace talks.
According to the sources, the Iranian side is expected to discuss key preconditions before entering potential direct negotiations with the United States, including the lifting of blockades, release of seized ships and crew, and broader confidence-building measures from Washington.
"Pakistan has remained in consistent contact with both Iran and the United States as part of its facilitation efforts," the official said, adding that, subject to progress in the preliminary discussions, Tehran may proceed toward direct talks with U.S. representatives.
A U.S. logistics and security team is already in Islamabad to support the anticipated negotiations, while local media reported that a U.S. delegation could also arrive on Saturday.
The confirmation follows a telephonic conversation between Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Araghchi, in which the former stressed the importance of sustained dialogue and engagement to address outstanding issues and advance regional peace and stability at the earliest.
Despite diplomatic contacts, tensions remain high as Washington continues its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports is "growing and going global" and would continue as long as necessary.
"No one sails from the Strait of Hormuz to anywhere in the world without the permission of the United States Navy," Hegseth told a Pentagon press briefing, adding that U.S. forces had turned back 34 ships to or from Iranian ports and seized two Iranian ships in the Indo-Pacific region.
At the same time, Iranian-linked oil shipments continue to challenge the blockade. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that another U.S.-sanctioned supertanker, the Curacao-flagged "Coba. Somerset. Yuri," crossed the Strait of Hormuz and anchored near Iran's southern Larak Island.
Iran has repeatedly said diplomacy cannot move forward while Washington maintains military pressure and maritime restrictions.
Iran's Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali said Tehran remains ready to resume negotiations with Washington but does not see a serious approach from the United States.
"We want concrete goals and objectives to be achieved as a result of these negotiations. They should not dictate the terms and outcomes of these talks," Jalali said, according to local media reports.
Iranian officials have insisted that sanctions relief, maritime access and respect for Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy remain essential conditions for any meaningful negotiations.
Meanwhile, broader international calls for diplomacy continued to grow. Egypt, Germany and Bahrain on Friday urged the resumption of U.S.-Iran negotiations and stressed the importance of solidifying the ceasefire to restore regional stability. ■
