In a post on X, Araghchi thanked Pakistan for its diplomatic efforts and clarified that Iran had never refused to go to Islamabad for talks.
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi (Photo: X/@araghchi)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday signalled that Tehran is open to negotiating a peace deal with the United States, asserting that Iran’s position has been “misrepresented by US media.”
In a post on X, Araghchi thanked Pakistan for its diplomatic efforts and clarified that Iran had never refused to go to Islamabad for talks.
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“What we care about are the terms of a conclusive and lasting end to the illegal war imposed on us,” he added.
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His remarks came after reports claimed that the back channel talks between the United States and Iran via Pakistan have hit a dead end.
According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Iran formally told mediators that Tehran is unwilling to meet US officials in Islamabad in the coming days and considers US demands unacceptable.
The report further claimed that two other intermediaries- Turkey and Egypt – are looking at alternative sites to host the talks.
Qatar and Istanbul are reportedly being considered for the new venue for holding peace talks.
However, the report added that Qatar has been resisting efforts by the United States and Middle Eastern countries to mediate in the ceasefire talks.
Iran has also turned down a United States proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire, according to a report by the semi-official Fars news agency.
The offer, reportedly sent via a “friendly” country on Thursday, came as Washington stepped up diplomatic outreach following a sharp rise in tensions across the region.
Sources cited by Fars said the proposal was made after the situation worsened and US forces faced what were described as serious setbacks linked to an underestimation of Iran’s military strength.
The diplomatic push gained urgency after an Iranian strike targeted a US military depot on Kuwait’s Bubiyan Island, as reported by Xinhua.
Iran did not respond with a formal written reply. Instead, the report said, its position was conveyed through continued military action on the ground.
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