Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi Arrives in Islamabad Again, Why Russia Is His Next Stop After Pakistan?
Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has again arrived in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. This marks his second visit within two days. During this visit, he is scheduled to hold meetings with Pakistani leaders. After a brief stopover in Islamabad, Araghchi will depart for Russia.
Earlier, on Saturday, he had met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir in Islamabad. During those meetings, he conveyed Iran's conditions and its objections regarding the demands put forth by the United States.
Iran has made it clear that it will not engage in direct talks with the U.S. and will instead convey its stance solely through Pakistan.
Spoke with the Foreign Ministers of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt
Araghchi had departed for Oman on Saturday evening. Today, he met with the Sultan of Oman, Tariq bin Haitham. Discussions during this meeting focused on the ongoing conflict and efforts toward restoring peace.
The Iranian Foreign Minister held telephone conversations with the Foreign Ministers of Egypt and Turkey to discuss ceasefire and diplomatic issues.
Araghchi and his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdel Atty, discussed diplomacy, a ceasefire in the US-Israel conflict, and recent developments in the region.
Abbas Araghchi also spoke by phone with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and briefed him on the latest developments regarding the ceasefire and diplomatic efforts.
According to a source within the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a telephone conversation with US negotiators, during which he discussed the latest developments in the talks between Iran and the United States.
In two separate phone calls, Fidan also discussed the ongoing talks between Iran and the US with Araghchi and Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held telephone conversations with Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry added that the Foreign Minister also held discussions with his counterparts in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Why is the Iranian Foreign Minister Visiting Russia?
Following his visits to Pakistan and Oman, Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, is now set to visit Russia. This visit is considered highly significant amidst the ongoing tensions and conflict involving the United States.
Russia has long been a key ally of Iran. The two nations share strong political, military, and economic ties. In January 2025, the two countries also signed a 20-year cooperation agreement.
Regarding the nuclear issue, Russia had proposed storing Iran's enriched uranium within its own territory—a move that could have potentially paved the way for diplomatic dialogue. However, U.S. President Donald Trump rejected this proposal.