Tehran denies new talks with Trumps envoys

The Iranian foreign minister is on a tour to coordinate with partners in Pakistan, Oman, and Russia

Iran has denied that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s trip to Islamabad will include new talks with Washington, pushing back on reports that President Donald Trump is dispatching envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan to restart negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaeisaidin a post on X early Saturday that “no meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US” during the visit and that Tehran’s views would instead be conveyed to Pakistan.

Araghchi himself said he was embarking on a “timely tour” of Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow in order to “closely coordinate” with partners on bilateral issues and consult on regional developments. Iranian state media said the three-leg trip is part of Tehran’s ongoing diplomatic effort to secure an end to US-Israeli aggression.

The denial came after the White House announced that Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would travel to Islamabad for a new round of talks, while Vice President J.D. Vance would remain on “standby” and could still be dispatched if negotiations progress far enough to justify his involvement.

While Tehran has insisted that no new US talks are on the agenda for this visit, AP reported that the sides could still hold indirect discussions through Pakistani mediation rather than direct face-to-face negotiations.

Washington indefinitely extended the ceasefire with Iran earlier this week, expecting a “unified” proposal from Tehran while keeping the US blockade of Iranian ports in place. The standoff around the Strait of Hormuz has rattled global markets, pushing Brent crude above $100 per barrel, while Trump has made clear there is no firm timeline for ending the war.

The US president further raised the stakes by saying he had ordered the US Navy to “shoot and kill” any Iranian boats allegedly laying mines in the waterway. Tehran considers the blockade a direct breach of the ceasefire and has argued that any talks are pointless as long as it remains in place.

Tehran’s ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, told RT that Iran is not seeking war but is ready to respond, insisting the country remains open to diplomacy if Washington abandons its bullying. Iranian officials, including Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, have previously accused the US of trying to turn negotiations into “a table of surrender” after failing to achieve victory on the battlefield.

(RT.com)