President Donald Trump of the United States. (AP/Yonhap)
As the United States and Iran issue conflicting messages about whether peace talks will resume, reports say delegations from both sides could make contact in Pakistan as soon as this weekend.
Yonhap News Agency reported that The New York Times, citing two senior Iranian officials, said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to meet U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s eldest son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in Pakistan this weekend.
The officials said Araghchi traveled to Islamabad carrying a written response to a U.S. proposal for peace talks. They said Iran has publicly maintained it would not hold talks until the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is lifted, but has privately explored ways to restart negotiations through intermediaries including Pakistan. Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on April 25 local time.
The Washington Post also reported the talks would resume this weekend. A U.S. official told the newspaper that Witkoff and Kushner had received confirmation from Iran about restarting talks, saying, “Otherwise they wouldn’t be going.”
The U.S. government also officially confirmed plans to send Witkoff and Kushner to Pakistan. The White House said it “expects positive progress” from the visit. Trump suggested talks could advance, saying Iran “will come up with a proposal.”
Reports differ on timing. The Associated Press said a meeting was set for Saturday, April 25, while Axios, citing multiple sources, reported it could be held Monday, April 27.
Iran’s official position, however, diverged from the U.S. account. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei wrote on X that “no meeting between Iran and the United States is planned.” He said Araghchi’s Islamabad trip was to meet senior Pakistani leaders and to support Pakistan’s continuing efforts to end the U.S.-led war and restore regional stability.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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