Pakistan hopes for progress in US-Iran talks: Minister

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Friday expressed hope for progress in diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran, as Iran's foreign minister and envoys of US President Donald Trump were reportedly heading to Pakistan.

This comes after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X that he is set to arrive in Islamabad on Friday evening as part of a regional tour that also includes Muscat and Moscow.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told Rudaw in a brief meeting in Islamabad, commenting on Araghchi’s visit, “We hope things move forward for the better. Let us wait and see what happens tonight.”

Meanwhile, Reuters reported, citing US officials, that President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to travel to Pakistan soon for talks with Araghchi. CNN, which first reported the plans, said Vice President JD Vance is not currently expected to attend but will remain on standby to travel to Islamabad if negotiations progress.

The visit comes after a two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, which paused nearly six weeks of hostilities triggered by the US and Israel’s military campaign against Iran on February 28. High-level talks between the US and Iranian delegations were held in Islamabad on April 11 but ended without a final agreement. The Iranian delegation included Araghchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf.

A US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance had been expected to travel to Islamabad for follow-up talks this week. However, Iran said it would not return to negotiations, citing Washington’s naval blockade on its ports.

The Pakistan-mediated ceasefire was reached on April 8, pausing the war and opening the door for negotiations, but no breakthrough has been achieved so far.

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he agreed to extend the ceasefire at Pakistan’s request, giving Tehran more time to submit a “unified proposal” for a potential agreement.

Tensions remain high. On April 13, Washington imposed a naval blockade on Iranian maritime traffic. US forces have since intercepted vessels linked to Iran, with the Department of War saying Thursday a “sanctioned stateless vessel” was interdicted in the Indian Ocean. US Secretary of War said in a Friday press conference that 34 vessels have been turned back as part of the operation.

In response to the US-Israeli military campaign, Iran has maintained restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Wednesday that “reopening the Strait of Hormuz is not possible” under current conditions.

Araghchi on Tuesday described the “blockading” of Iranian ports as “an act of war,” warning that Iran “knows how to neutralize restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying.”