ISLAMABAD : Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to visit Pakistan again after concluding his trip to Oman and before traveling to Russia, according to Iranian media reports, even as the United States has abruptly cancelled a planned visit by senior envoys to Islamabad for talks with Tehran.
The diplomatic twists come against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions, with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declaring that controlling the Strait of Hormuz is the country’s “definitive strategy” in its war with the United States, and with fresh cross-border fighting erupting between Israel and Hezbollah.
Araghchi’s Tour and US Cancellation
Earlier today, Araghchi left Pakistan for Oman – the second leg of a three-country diplomatic tour that is also expected to take him to Russia. His departure came shortly after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that he had welcomed the Iranian minister to Islamabad. Sharif said the two sides discussed the current regional situation as well as bilateral relations.
However, US President Donald Trump has cancelled a visit by American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan that was intended for Iran-related talks. Trump blamed the long journey and “tremendous infighting and confusion” within the Iranian leadership for the decision.
Speaking upon arrival in Oman, Araghchi described his visit to Pakistan as “very fruitful,” but added a note of caution: “I have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy.”
