Iran Denies Claims of Upcoming Meeting with US in Pakistan
Tehran has officially dismissed reports that it was preparing to hold direct talks with American officials in Pakistan. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that his country has no plans to engage with a US delegation. Instead, he explained that Tehran's remarks and proposals would be channeled through Pakistani intermediaries, as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is currently in Islamabad for consultations with Pakistan’s mediating leadership.
This denial contradicts earlier announcements from the White House, which suggested that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were set to travel to Pakistan for face-to-face negotiations with Iran. The first round of US-Iran talks concluded on April 12 without any progress, as the two sides failed to bridge differences over Iran's nuclear program. Iran has not provided guarantees to abandon the development of nuclear weapons, complicating any further dialogue.
US President Donald Trump extended a two-week ceasefire in the conflict with Iran, but Tehran has not acknowledged this decision. Iran views the conflict as an act of aggression imposed by the United States. Trump warned that
“if the ceasefire ends without a result, numerous bombs will start exploding,”the US president stated. Iran has also declared its readiness to respond if the situation escalates.
Current Situation
Tensions between the US and Iran remain extremely high, as both sides struggle to find common ground, particularly regarding Tehran's nuclear ambitions. The decision to continue dialogue through intermediaries may reflect a desire to keep diplomatic channels open, but it also underscores deep divisions that could hinder further negotiations.
Given these circumstances, it is important to monitor developments closely, including any new initiatives that may emerge from either side in the future.