- Iran outlined its negotiating demands and red lines to Pakistan amid a fragile ceasefire
- US envoys are in Islamabad for diplomatic efforts to break the deadlock with Iran
- Iran refuses direct talks with the US, preferring communication through Pakistan
Iran has outlined its negotiating demands and key red lines to Pakistan amid a fragile ceasefire, even as US envoys head to Islamabad in a fresh diplomatic push to break the deadlock.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi conveyed Tehran's position, including its reservations about US expectations, to Pakistani officials during talks in Islamabad, a Pakistani source involved in the discussions told Reuters.
The outreach comes as Washington attempts to revive engagement through backchannel diplomacy.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran was preparing an offer aimed at addressing American concerns, though he added he was unaware of its specifics. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth struck a firm tone, saying Iran had a chance to secure a “good deal.”
“All they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon in meaningful and verifiable ways,” Hegseth said at a Pentagon briefing.
Araghchi met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials, according to a report in Reuters. The White House had earlier said Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner would arrive in Islamabad on Saturday. However, Tehran has ruled out direct talks with US representatives for now, opting instead to route communication through Pakistan.
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The conflict has now entered its ninth week. A ceasefire that began on June 24 was extended earlier this week by Trump, but uncertainty continues to roil global energy markets, pushing prices to multi-year highs and raising inflation concerns.
Araghchi said he had “explained our country's principled positions regarding the latest developments related to the ceasefire and the complete end of the imposed war against Iran,” according to a statement on his official Telegram account.
An Iranian diplomatic source in Islamabad underscored Tehran's stance, telling Reuters: “Principally, Iranian side will not accept maximalist demands.”
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