This handout photograph launched by the Iranian Overseas Ministry on April 25, 2026 reveals Pakistan’s Military Chief and Subject Marshal Syed Asim Munir (third R) assembly with Iran’s Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi (third L) upon his arrival in Islamabad. (Picture by Iranian Overseas Ministry / AFP through Getty Pictures) / XGTY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / Iranian Overseas Ministry” – HANDOUT – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
– | Afp | Getty Pictures
Iranian Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi met with the head of Pakistan’s navy, Asim Munir, the Iranian embassy in Pakistan mentioned in a publish on X on Saturday, as prospects for a second spherical of direct talks between Iran and the U.S. over the weekend appeared unlikely.
A senior Iranian official mentioned his authorities’s representatives don’t have any plans to fulfill with senior U.S. negotiators headed to Pakistan for talks.
“No assembly is deliberate to happen between Iran and the U.S. Iran’s observations can be conveyed to Pakistan,” Iranian Overseas Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei mentioned in a publish on X late Friday.
Reuters, citing two Pakistani authorities sources, mentioned the Iranian delegation had flown overseas.
On Friday, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, will head to Pakistan on Saturday morning to have interaction in “direct talks” with their Iranian counterparts.
“The Iranians reached out” and requested for an in-person dialog, as Trump had requested them to do, Leavitt mentioned on Fox Information.
“So the president is dispatching Steve and Jared to go hear what they must say, and we’re hopeful that it is going to be a productive dialog and hopefully transfer the ball ahead in direction of a deal,” she mentioned.
Vice President JD Vance, who led a previous U.S. delegation to Islamabad for an preliminary spherical of negotiations with Iran, won’t be attending this weekend’s talks, Leavitt mentioned.
Trump instructed Reuters in a telephone name later Friday that Iran shall be “making a proposal,” including that he didn’t but know what it might be and that “we’ll must see.”
Araghchi, earlier Friday, mentioned he was “embarking on a well timed tour” of Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow with the intention to “carefully coordinate with our companions on bilateral issues and seek the advice of on regional developments.”
The primary spherical of peace talks, held two weeks in the past in Islamabad and led on the U.S. aspect by Vance, ended with no deal.
A U.S. delegation, together with Vance, had been anticipated to journey to Pakistan earlier this week for additional negotiations, however the journey was delayed after Iranian officers reportedly mentioned they’d not attend.
A lot of the mutual prickliness has centered on the Strait of Hormuz, the most important oil-shipping route that has seen visitors sluggish to a trickle amid Iranian threats and, as of final week, a retaliatory U.S. naval blockade.
Trump, within the Reuters interview, mentioned the U.S. won’t carry its blockade of Iranian ports till a deal is struck.
Oil waiver
The U.S. can also be sustaining different types of financial strain on Tehran.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent instructed The Related Press on Friday that the U.S. doesn’t plan to resume a one-time waiver permitting the acquisition of Iranian oil at sea.
“Not the Iranians,” Bessent mentioned. “We’ve got the blockade, and there is no oil popping out.”
“And we predict within the subsequent two, three days, they’ll have to begin shuttering manufacturing, which shall be very unhealthy for his or her wells.”
Bessent additionally mentioned the U.S. doesn’t plan to resume a waiver permitting the acquisition of Russian oil and petroleum merchandise which can be at the moment at sea, in accordance with the AP.
In the meantime, the U.S. mentioned it has sanctioned Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery, an unbiased “teapot” oil refinery in China, for getting Iranian oil merchandise.
“China-based unbiased teapot refineries proceed to play an important position in sustaining Iran’s oil economic system, and Hengli is one in every of Iran’s largest clients for crude oil and different petroleum merchandise, having bought billions of {dollars}’ price of Iranian petroleum,” the Treasury Division mentioned in a assertion.
The tensions have additional strained an already-fragile ceasefire, which was introduced on April 7 amid threats by Trump that Iran’s “complete civilization will die” until a deal is struck.
Regardless of the continued stress within the strait, Trump on Tuesday unilaterally prolonged the ceasefire shortly earlier than it was set to run out.
After the conflict started on Feb. 28, the Trump administration repeatedly mentioned it anticipated the operation to be transient, concluding inside 4 to 6 weeks.
Since passing that deadline, the administration has reframed its timeline, whereas stressing that prior U.S. conflicts have lasted far longer.
“Not like the limitless wars of the previous that dragged on for years and for many years with little to point out for it, Operation Epic Fury has delivered a decisive navy lead to simply weeks,” Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned at a press briefing Friday morning.
– CNBC’s Terri Cullen, Reuters and The Related Press contributed to this report.
