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Iran\u2019s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday said that Tehran\u2019s leadership \u201cnever refused to go to Islamabad\u201d for possible peace talks that Pakistan has offered to host to bring the ongoing US-Israeli war on the Islamic republic to an end.<\/p>\n
\u201cIran\u2019s position is being misrepresented by US media,\u201d Araghchi wrote on X.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are deeply grateful to Pakistan for its efforts and have never refused to go to Islamabad. What we care about are the terms of a conclusive and lasting END to the illegal war that is imposed on us,\u201d he emphasised.<\/p>\n
He also shared a video showing Iranians waving Pakistan\u2019s flags in an apparent show of appreciation for Pakistan and its people. The Iranian FM ended his post with \u201cPakistan Zindabad<\/em>\u201d written in Urdu.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Araghchi\u2019s statement comes a day after the Wall Street Journal<\/em><\/a> (WSJ)<\/em>, citing unnamed mediators, reported that the \u201ccurrent round of efforts by regional countries led by Pakistan to reach a ceasefire\u201d between the United States and Iran had reached a \u201cdead end\u201d.<\/p>\n Deputy Prime Minister and FM Ishaq Dar promptly appreciated Araghchi\u2019s \u201cclarification\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cTruly appreciate your clarification, my dear brother,\u201d Dar said on X in response to Araghchi\u2019s post.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi termed Araghchi\u2019s statement a \u201ctimely reminder\u201d that \u201cspeculation helps no one\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cStick to official statements and verified media readouts for clear and accurate information,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n The clarification from Iran also follows media reports<\/a> noting that Tehran had yet to formally respond to proposals for a dialogue despite back-channel exchanges in recent days.<\/p>\n Pakistan has positioned itself as a facilitator in the peace process, leveraging its ties with the US, its working relationship with Iran, and its strategic partnership with China.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had initially offered <\/a>on March 24 that Pakistan stood \u201cready and honoured\u201d to host \u201cmeaningful and conclusive talks\u201d between the US and Iran.<\/p>\n Last week, Islamabad hosted a quadrilateral meeting<\/a> of foreign ministers and reiterated<\/a> its offer.<\/p>\n On March 31, Pakistan and China also issued a five-point initiative<\/u><\/a> for restoring peace in the Middle East, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities.<\/p>\n On Friday, an Iranian official in Tehran had also denied reports that Iran had refused to participate in a dialogue in Islamabad.<\/p>\n Rather, he pointed to a different set of constraints. The official said the terms conveyed by Washington were unacceptable.<\/p>\n \u201cThe conditions, or the 15-point proposal, put forward by the United States are too difficult to accept,\u201d the official said, describing the situation as \u201chighly complex\u201d.<\/p>\n He noted that Iran\u2019s immediate focus was on the war and not negotiations. Moreover, he cited deep mistrust of US intentions.<\/p>\n \u201cRecent US deployments to the region do not align with its stated intentions of pursuing talks, and therefore Iran has zero confidence in the US,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Recalling the targeting of two Iranian leaders pursuing an initiative for de-escalation, the official said, \u201cThere are serious concerns that anyone participating in negotiations could also be targeted.\u201d<\/p>\n Nevertheless, the official praised Pakistan for its efforts, saying \u201cPakistani leaders were undoubtedly doing their best for cessation of hostilities.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>\u2018Iran has zero confidence in US\u2019<\/h2>\n