Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi returned to Islamabad on Sunday after a brief departure that had caused confusion, as Pakistani political and military leaders urgently worked to revive ceasefire talks between Tehran and Washington.
Araghchi had left Pakistan’s capital late Saturday but came back before heading to Moscow, according to Iranian state media. He had also visited Oman, a previous mediator in the talks, located across the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The White House had announced on Friday that envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would go to Islamabad for a second round, but shortly after Araghchi’s departure was reported, President Donald Trump said he had canceled the mission due to a lack of progress with Iran, adding that Tehran could “call us anytime they want.”
Trump had previously extended indefinitely the ceasefire agreed on April 7, which largely halted fighting that began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28. However, a permanent settlement remains elusive in the conflict, which has killed thousands and shaken the global economy. A standoff persists at the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway, with Iran restricting movement and the U.S. enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran wants Oman to support a mechanism to collect tolls from vessels passing through the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s oil flows in peacetime. Iran insists on ending the U.S. blockade before any new talks, and that Pakistan-led mediators are trying to bridge significant gaps between the two sides. Araghchi’s talks in Oman focused on Strait of Hormuz issues; Oman’s response remains unclear. On Sunday, Araghchi also spoke by phone with counterparts in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Even before Saturday’s events, Iran’s foreign ministry had indicated that any talks would be indirect, with Pakistani officials acting as go-betweens, reflecting Tehran’s wariness after previous rounds of indirect talks ended with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.
The economic fallout is growing two months into the war, as global shipments of oil, LNG, fertilizer, and other supplies are disrupted by the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Both sides continue to exchange military threats: Iran’s joint military command warned on Saturday of a “strong response” if the U.S. continues aggressive actions, while Trump last week ordered the military to “shoot and kill” small boats that could be placing mines.
