Following discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials, Araqchi and his team departed from Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, with military jet escort, according to government sources. Details of the discussions remain limited.
Earlier, the White House announced that President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were set to arrive in Islamabad on Saturday.
It remains unclear when Araqchi might return to Pakistan, as Iran has previously ruled out any further direct negotiations with the United States.
The U.S. and Tehran find themselves at a standstill, with Iran significantly restricting access to the Strait of Hormuz, which typically handles one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments, while the U.S. continues to obstruct Iranian oil exports.
IRAN STATES ITS ‘PRINCIPLED POSITIONS’
The conflict, which currently has a ceasefire in effect, was ignited by U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28. Since then, Iran has conducted retaliatory strikes against Israel, U.S. military bases, and Gulf states, propelling energy prices to multi-year highs, exacerbating inflation, and darkening global economic outlooks.
Araqchi “outlined our nation’s principled positions regarding the recent developments connected to the ceasefire and the total cessation of the imposed war on Iran,” as stated in a message on the minister’s official Telegram channel.
When asked about Tehran’s concerns regarding U.S. positions in the discussions, an Iranian diplomatic source in Islamabad told Reuters: “Fundamentally, the Iranian side will not acquiesce to maximalist demands.”
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously stated to reporters that Iran had the opportunity to secure a “good deal”.
“Iran understands they still have a chance to choose wisely,” he noted. “All they need to do is meaningfully and verifiably abandon a nuclear weapon.”
Araqchi arrived in Islamabad on Friday, yet an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson announced on X that Iranian officials did not anticipate meeting with U.S. representatives and would communicate Tehran’s concerns through mediator Pakistan.
Trump indicated to Reuters on Friday that Iran aimed to present a proposal to meet U.S. demands but was unsure of the specifics. He refrained from revealing whom Washington was negotiating with, “but we’re engaging with those currently in charge.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt remarked that the U.S. had observed some advancements from the Iranian side in recent days and was optimistic for additional progress this weekend, while Vice President JD Vance was also prepared to travel to Pakistan.
CEASEFIRES IN EFFECT, FEW VESSELS TRAVERSING HORMUZ
Days after Trump prolonged the ceasefire, international flights resumed from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport on Saturday, as reported by Iranian media. The first flights departed for Medina in Saudi Arabia, Muscat, and Istanbul, with operations expected to increase in the following days.
“It’s a reassuring feeling. With flights resuming, trade can occur, and people can carry out their duties. It’s a positive feeling,” commented one passenger at the airport, where people were lining up at check-in counters.
Iranian airspace has been largely closed since the conflict’s onset. Tens of thousands of flights have been cancelled, rerouted, and rescheduled globally, resulting in significant restrictions across much of the Middle East’s airspace due to missile and drone threats.
Trump independently extended a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday to provide additional time for negotiators to reconvene.
This week, oil prices surged, with Brent crude futures climbing 16%, amid uncertainty surrounding the peace talks and escalating violence in the region.
Shipping data on Friday revealed that five vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz within the previous 24 hours, a stark contrast to about 130 daily crossings prior to the conflict. Among the vessels was an Iranian oil-products tanker, but there were no large crude-carrying supertankers typically supplying global energy markets.
Data analytics firm Vortexa reported this week that it had documented 35 total transits through the U.S. blockade from April 13 to 22, involving Iran-linked or sanctioned vessels for both inbound and outbound journeys.
“The adversary, whose goal of crippling Iran’s missile and military capacities has fallen short, is now in search of an honorable exit from the quagmire of war,” Iranian media cited a defense ministry spokesperson as saying. “Iran currently maintains firm control over the Strait of Hormuz.”
Iranian state television quoted the nation’s highest military authority reiterating that Iran would respond if U.S. forces persisted in their “blockade and piracy” in the area.
On Thursday, Israel and Lebanon extended their ceasefire for an additional three weeks during a White House meeting facilitated by Trump; however, little evidence suggests an end to the conflict in southern Lebanon.
Israel invaded its northern neighbor last month to eliminate Iran’s Hezbollah allies after the militant group fired across the border in support of Iran. Tehran asserts that a ceasefire is a prerequisite for negotiations.
On Saturday, four individuals were reported killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s state news agency, while Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel, as indicated by the Israeli military, in the latest challenge to the ceasefire.
