Dar welcomes Araghchi’s clarification that Iran never refused Islamabad talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday said that Iran was “deeply grateful to Pakistan” for its mediation efforts amid the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran, adding that they ” have never refused to go to Islamabad” for talks.

In a post on X, he said, “Iran’s position was being misrepresented by the US media,” adding, “What we care about are the terms of a conclusive and lasting END to the illegal war that is imposed on us”.

His statement came amid reports that mediation efforts between the United States and Iran had narrowly missed a breakthrough on two occasions.

Pakistan has been actively positioning itself as a neutral facilitator amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, offering Islamabad as a venue for dialogue.

The initiative reflects Islamabad’s broader effort to de-escalate regional tensions, particularly in the wake of heightened hostilities following US and Israeli strikes against Iranian targets.

Reacting to the development, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that he appreciated the clarification by his “Dear Brother Araghchi.”

Meanwhile, security sources said Araghchi’s statement counters a disinformation campaign fueled by select Western and Indian media outlets, as well as their affiliates in Pakistan, regarding Iran’s willingness to engage diplomatically.

They reaffirmed that through constructive engagement with all key stakeholders, Pakistan continues to pursue regional peace and stability, reinforcing its reputation as an honest broker in international diplomacy.

The proposed Islamabad meeting was seen as a key opportunity for de-escalation amid rising regional tensions. According to sources, despite extensive preparations, the engagements were postponed at the last minute, with both sides seeking additional time for internal consultations.

Earlier, in a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, said the ministry had noted several reports in the media, including on social media, citing so-called official government sources regarding the ongoing conflict in the region and Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace and dialogue.

“We categorically reject these false insinuations attributed to purported official sources as baseless and a figment of imagination. Any attribution to official sources in this regard is incorrect. It is a matter of concern that the briefing held on Friday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been misrepresented, with references to issues that were neither discussed nor alluded to,” he said.

Andrabi added that, at a time of heightened regional sensitivity, diplomacy required both discretion and responsibility. He urged all media platforms to exercise due diligence, avoid speculation, and rely exclusively on officially issued statements and media readouts for accurate and timely information.

Backchannel peace efforts continue

Backchannel efforts to arrange talks between the United States and Iran are still underway, despite earlier attempts to convene a high-level meeting in Islamabad that could not materialise, sources familiar with the matter said.

Pakistan had quietly facilitated preparations for a possible round of direct engagement involving a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance and senior Iranian representatives.

The proposed meeting, to be held in Islamabad, was seen as a potential opening for de-escalation amid heightened regional tensions.

However, despite advanced preparations on more than one occasion in recent days, the planned engagements were postponed at the last minute, with both sides requiring additional time for internal consultations, sources said.

“Efforts are ongoing, and there is still a willingness to explore diplomatic options,” one source noted, adding that the situation remains fluid given the broader regional dynamics.

These peace efforts come as Pakistan ​hosted talks with Turkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia on Sunday, March 29, as part of its efforts to broker ‌an end to the Iran war.

Initial discussions focused on proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, sources familiar with the matter said.

Foreign ministers from the three regional powers landed in Islamabad last week for talks as Iran warned the US against launching a ground attack, ​and global oil prices surged amid continued fighting between Iran, the US and Israel.

At the time, the countries meeting in Pakistan ​had floated proposals to Washington tied to maritime traffic and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, ⁠five sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, as part of wider efforts to stabilise shipping flows.

A day ahead of these talks, DPM/FM Dar had spoken with FM Araghchi, urging diplomacy and dialogue as the sole path to peace.