{"id":99563,"date":"2026-04-26T15:56:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T15:56:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/04\/26\/irans-top-diplomat-returns-to-pakistan-as-islamabad-tries-to-save-talks-with-us\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T15:57:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T15:57:31","slug":"irans-top-diplomat-returns-to-pakistan-as-islamabad-tries-to-save-talks-with-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/04\/26\/irans-top-diplomat-returns-to-pakistan-as-islamabad-tries-to-save-talks-with-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran&#8217;s top diplomat returns to Pakistan as Islamabad tries to save talks with US"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"prism-article-body\">\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao MvWXB TjIXL aGjvy ebVHC \"><span class=\"oyrPY qlwaB AGxeB  \">Islamabad &#8212; <\/span>Islamabad (AP) &#8211; <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/iran\">iran<\/a> The foreign minister arrived in Islamabad again on Sunday as Pakistan&#8217;s political and military leadership seeks to restart ceasefire talks between Tehran and Washington.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Iranian state media said Abbas Araghchi had left the Pakistani capital late Saturday, sparking confusion over a possible second round of talks, but returned to Islamabad before flying to Moscow. He was in Oman, which previously mediated the talks and is strategically located on the other side. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/us-iran-war-strait-of-hormuz-oil-tankers-b8b1d607583f88334bf10489cc4b63a2\">strait of hormuz<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The two Pakistani officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the efforts, did not say when the Americans might return to the region to pursue further operations. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-april-11-2026-2be904aee3f804892336730279e054b9\">historical face to face conversation<\/a> earlier this month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The White House said on Friday it would send envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad. But shortly after Araghchi&#8217;s departure was reported, President Donald Trump said he was closing the mission due to a lack of progress with Iran.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;If they want, we can talk, but we&#8217;re not sending people,&#8221; Trump told Fox News on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">trump last week <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-us-israel-war-what-to-know-beb5625f8537ceaf22c061cf073210aa\">ceasefire extended indefinitely<\/a> The US and Iran agreed on April 7, largely stopping the fighting that began with joint US-Israeli strikes on February 28. But there has been no lasting solution to this war, which has taken thousands of lives and shaken the global economy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The standoff continues over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global waterway, as Iran restricts movement through it and the US enforces it. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/us-iran-war-navy-blockade-strait-of-hormuz-5ede64fed469d3cf99524976183e3bfc\">blockade<\/a> of Iranian ports.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Iran wants to persuade Oman to support a mechanism <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/strait-of-hormuz-iran-tolls-oil-3ef5dcd907122922db714d318c35317e\">collect toll from ships<\/a> passing through the strait, through which a fifth of the world&#8217;s oil flows in peacetime, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Oman&#8217;s response was not immediately clear.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The official involved in the mediation efforts also said Iran is pushing for an end to the US blockade before the new round of talks and the Pakistan-led mediators are trying to bridge the significant gap between the countries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Araghchi also spoke on phone with counterparts from Qatar and Saudi Arabia on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Even before Saturday&#8217;s developments, Iran&#8217;s Foreign Ministry had said any talks would be indirect and Pakistani officials would act as mediators, reflecting Tehran&#8217;s wariness after rounds of indirect talks following attacks by the US and Israel on Iran last year and early this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \"> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/oil-gas-hormuz-gulf-energy-infrastructure-95425c82bcd5287f372ad6bb0ee69f5f\">economic output is increasing<\/a> The war took two months as global shipments of oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizer and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-war-oil-consumer-products-petroleum-cdbcc14cca17d7db49b34e016adebac1\">other supplies are disrupted<\/a> Due to the almost closure of the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Both sides have continued to issue military threats. Iran&#8217;s Joint Military Command warned on Saturday that it would face a &#8220;strong response&#8221; if the US continues its aggressive military actions, including naval blockade, banditry and piracy. Trump ordered the army last week <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/us-iran-war-hormuz-israel-pakistan-ceasefire-april-23-2026-368b922ae2f4c874df8a133491eeffe8\">&#8220;Shoot and kill&#8221; small boats.<\/a> he could be <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-war-strait-hormuz-minesweeping-navy-underwater-edef3201f6e227c4b5e5edf1a28f6f77\">laying mines<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Trump said this to reporters earlier on Saturday <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/white-house-correspondents-dinner-trump-first-amendment-a0a2446832e8596e66c6fccb8426c8aa\">a security incident<\/a> At the White House correspondents&#8217; dinner, that within 10 minutes of Witkoff and Kushner&#8217;s trip to Islamabad being cancelled, Iran sent a &#8220;much better&#8221; offer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">He did not elaborate but emphasized that one of his conditions was that Iran &#8220;shall not have nuclear weapons.&#8221; the status of <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-nuclear-uranium-enriched-trump-war-1fd6de24bd1e6c3a4945d58d3f777462\">Iran&#8217;s enriched uranium<\/a> Has been at the center of tension for a long time. According to the UN nuclear watchdog agency, Tehran has 440 kilograms (972 lb) of uranium enriched to 60% purity, a small, technological step up from weapons-grade levels.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Syed Mohammad Ali, an independent political analyst in Pakistan, said that the delay in talks should not be seen as a setback and that indirect talks are moving forward. He said tensions between Washington and Tehran cannot be eased overnight and the dialogue process requires patience.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Ali said, &#8220;But the good thing is that the ceasefire is holding and there is a desire on both sides to end the conflict in a way that it does not cause damage at the domestic level.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Since the war began, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran and at least 2,509 in Lebanon, where Israel-Hezbollah fighting resumed two days after the Iran-Iran war began.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Also, 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers have been killed in Lebanon, 13 US service members in the region, and six UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Another Armistice &#8211; Between <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-us-talks-ceasefire-washington-e7f26e207fc7543fe1f25a5318ff9ce3\">Israeli and Iranian-backed Lebanese terrorist Hezbollah group<\/a>Has been extended for three weeks. Hezbollah has not participated in Washington-mediated diplomacy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">___<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC eTIW sUzSN \">Magdi reported from Cairo and Liedman from Jerusalem. Associated Press writer Will Weisert in Washington contributed to this report.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Islamabad &#8212; Islamabad (AP) &#8211; iran The foreign minister arrived in Islamabad again on Sunday as Pakistan&#8217;s political and military leadership seeks to restart ceasefire talks between Tehran and Washington. Iranian state media said Abbas Araghchi had left the Pakistani capital late Saturday, sparking confusion over a possible second round of talks, but returned to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99567,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[3819,360,17697,419,3823,444,349,1268],"class_list":{"0":"post-99563","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bible-news","8":"tag-diplomat","9":"tag-irans","10":"tag-islamabad","11":"tag-pakistan","12":"tag-returns","13":"tag-save","14":"tag-talks","15":"tag-top"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99563","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99563"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99563\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99569,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99563\/revisions\/99569"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99563"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99563"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99563"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}