Iran FM Araghchi Flies to Pakistan for US Talks Round 2

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi landed in Islamabad on Friday night for a second round of talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, in a reversal of Tehran's earlier refusal to send a delegation while Washington's naval blockade remained in force. The visit marks day 56 of the 2026 Iran war.

A Reversal From Tehran

According to Al Jazeera, CNN, Bloomberg and The National, Araghchi traveled with a small delegation. That reverses Iran's 22 April position, when Tehran had said no delegation would attend talks until the United States lifted its blockade of Iranian ports. Araghchi's itinerary continues from Islamabad to Muscat and then Moscow.

Haaretz reported that Araghchi is expected to discuss Tehran's proposal for direct U.S. talks during the Pakistan stop. Pakistani officials cited by The National said there is now a "high likelihood of a breakthrough."

The U.S. Team

President Trump is sending Witkoff, his Middle East envoy, and Kushner to represent Washington, per CNN. Vice President JD Vance is on standby but not yet traveling. Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf is not participating in this round.

At least nine U.S. aircraft arrived in Islamabad this week carrying communications equipment, vehicles and technical personnel, according to Al Jazeera's liveblog. Pakistan, acting as mediator, has deployed heavy security.

The Hormuz Backdrop

The talks unfold against a hardened U.S. military posture. Trump on 23 April ordered the Navy to "shoot and kill any boat" laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz and directed minesweepers to clear the strait at a "tripled up level," per Al Jazeera. The immediate objective of this weekend's talks is a memorandum of understanding extending the ceasefire ahead of a full peace deal.

After a week of deadlock following the collapse of the 21 April Islamabad round, Friday's meeting is the most substantive diplomatic movement in the war to date.