‘Deeply Grateful to pakistan’ for mediation efforts,’never refused to go to Islamabad’: Iranian FM
Abbas Araghchi Iran’s Position being misrepresented by US media, seeks conclusive and lasting end to illegal war
Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Iran is “deeply grateful” to Pakistan for its efforts to mediate in the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel. He emphasized that Iran has always been open to talks in Islamabad and has “never refused” such dialogue.
In a post on X, Araghchi stated that Iran’s position has been misrepresented by US media. He clarified that Iran is focused on achieving a definitive and lasting end to what it calls an “illegal war” imposed on the country.
His remarks came amid reports that recent mediation attempts between the United States and Iran came close to a breakthrough but ultimately fell short on two occasions.
Pakistan has been positioning itself as a neutral mediator, offering Islamabad as a venue for dialogue. This reflects its broader push to ease regional tensions following escalating hostilities involving US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.
Reacting to Araghchi’s statement, Ishaq Dar welcomed the clarification and referred to Araghchi as his “dear brother.”
Security officials said Araghchi’s comments also counter misinformation spread by some Western and Indian media outlets regarding Iran’s willingness to engage diplomatically. They reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to promoting peace through engagement with all key stakeholders.
A proposed high-level meeting in Islamabad was seen as a major opportunity for de-escalation. However, despite extensive preparations, talks were postponed at the last moment as both sides needed more time for internal consultations.
Earlier, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi rejected media reports citing unnamed official sources about Pakistan’s role in the conflict, calling them baseless and misleading. He stressed that diplomacy during sensitive times requires responsibility and urged media outlets to rely only on official statements.
Meanwhile, backchannel efforts to bring the United States and Iran to the negotiating table are still ongoing. Pakistan had reportedly facilitated preparations for a potential meeting involving a US delegation led by JD Vance and senior Iranian officials, though these plans were also delayed.
Despite setbacks, diplomatic efforts continue. Pakistan recently hosted talks with Turkiye, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia aimed at ending the conflict. Initial discussions included proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.
These efforts come amid rising tensions, warnings from Iran against a US ground offensive, and increasing global oil prices due to continued fighting.
Pakistan continues to advocate diplomacy as the only viable path to peace, with Ishaq Dar earlier urging dialogue in a conversation with Abbas Araghchi.