Iran Foreign Minister Araghchi to visit Pakistan, Oman and Russia
Tehran, April 24
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi will be travelling to Pakistan, Oman and Russia starting Friday night, local media reported.
Araghchi's visit is aimed to hold bilateral discussions on current developments in the region as well as the latest situation in the West Asia conflict, Iran's state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.
Earlier in the day, Araghchi held telephonic conversation with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, with discussions focused on regional developments and the ceasefire.
Araghchi's visit to Pakistan comes after US President Donald Trump signalled that the United States could resume military action against Iran if negotiations fail, while insisting he is in "no rush" to conclude a deal after weeks of conflict.
"I could make a deal right now... but I want to have an everlasting," Trump said, adding that he would "finish it up militarily with the other 25 per cent of the targets" if Tehran refuses to agree.
His remarks came amid a fragile pause in hostilities following a US-led military campaign that Trump said had already "totally defeated their military" within weeks.
"We've hit about 75 per cent of our targets," he said, describing damage to Iran's naval, air and missile capabilities.
Trump said Washington retains "total control" over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and has kept it effectively closed to pressure Iran economically. "If we open the strait, that means they're going to make $500 million a day. I don't want them to make $500 million a day until they settle this thing," he said.
The US President indicated that Tehran's leadership remains unstable following sustained strikes. "They don't even know who is leading the country... they're fighting like cats and dogs for who's going to control," he said.
Despite earlier suggesting the conflict could end within four to six weeks, Trump declined to set a timeline for a resolution. "I don't want to rush it... we have plenty of time," he said, arguing that Iran is under greater pressure due to economic strain and disrupted oil flows.
The first round of US-Iran talks, held in Islamabad on April 11-12 with the aim of ending the conflict in West Asia, collapsed after 21 hours of negotiations. The second round of talks between the two nations were not held after Iran's refusal to commit to participating in the negotiations.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Trump's comments sound like sabre-rattling to me. "No rush" but threatening to hit more targets? That's not negotiation, that's coercion. It's telling that even the Islamabad talks collapsed—both sides seem dug in. Hopefully, diplomacy through Iran's neighbors can prevent another full-blown war in West Asia.
Pakistan hosting talks between Iran and the US! That's a big deal for regional diplomacy. But why are the second round talks stuck? If Iran refuses to commit, it looks like they're not serious about peace. Trump's threat of military action is scary, but someone has to de-escalate. Maybe Araghchi's visit to Islamabad can restart the dialogue. 🤔
The US claims to have "totally defeated" Iran's military within weeks—that sounds like typical Trump exaggeration. Meanwhile, Tehran is busy courting Pakistan and Russia. It's a classic geopolitical chess game. India should maintain its strategic autonomy here; we need energy security but also good relations with all parties. Let's hope saner heads prevail.
21 hours of talks collapsed in Islamabad, and now Iran won't commit to a second round? That's not encouraging. If Iran is serious about avoiding more bombing, they need to engage. Trump says he's "no rush"—but the human cost in the region is mounting daily. Araghchi should use this trip to push for a ceasefire, not just bilateral talks.
As an Indian, I'm thinking about the Strait of Hormuz. If it stays closed, our oil prices will skyrocket. Trump says he
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.