Dar welcomes Araghchi’s clarification that Iran never rejected talks with Islamabad

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday 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.

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

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

The initiative reflects Islamabad’s broader effort to reduce regional tensions, particularly in the wake of increased hostilities following US and Israeli attacks on Iranian targets.

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

Meanwhile, security sources said Araghchi’s statement counters a disinformation campaign pushed by select Western and Indian media outlets, as well as their affiliates in Pakistan, about 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 meeting in Islamabad was seen as a key opportunity to de-escalate tensions amid rising regional tensions. According to sources, despite extensive preparations, the engagements were postponed at the last minute with both sides requesting additional time for internal consultations.

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

“We categorically reject these false insinuations attributed to supposed official sources as unfounded and a product of imagination. Any attribution to official sources in this regard is incorrect. It is worrying that the briefing held on Friday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been distorted, with references to issues that were not discussed or 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.

Peace efforts continue through secondary channels

Secondary efforts to organize talks between the United States and Iran are still underway, despite earlier attempts to convene a high-level meeting in Islamabad that failed to materialize, 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 opportunity to de-escalate tensions amid rising regional tensions.

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

“Efforts are underway and there is still a willingness to explore diplomatic options,” one source said, 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 mediate an end to the war with Iran.

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

The foreign ministers of the three regional powers landed in Islamabad last week for talks as Iran warned the United States against launching a ground attack and global oil prices rose amid continuing fighting between Iran, the United States and Israel.

At the time, countries meeting in Pakistan had presented Washington with proposals related to maritime traffic and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, five sources familiar with the matter said. Reutersas part of broader efforts to stabilize maritime flows.

A day before these talks, MPD/FM Dar had spoken to FM Araghchi, urging diplomacy and dialogue as the only path to peace.