Khaberni - The atmosphere on Friday suggested the possibility of resuming talks between the United States and Iran to end the war, with negotiators from both sides heading to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, without confirmation of direct discussions, two weeks after the failure of previous negotiations.
On another note, the ceasefire in Lebanon is at stake, with mutual accusations of truce violations between Hezbollah and Israel following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of its extension for three more weeks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on Friday evening, according to the Pakistani Foreign Office, without directly mentioning talks with the United States.
Iranian television reported that Araghchi does not intend to meet the American negotiators Steve Whitcov and Jared Kushner.
The White House spokeswoman, Carolaine Levitt, earlier announced that President Trump's envoys would head to Pakistan on Saturday to hold talks "with representatives of the Iranian delegation," noting that the meeting was at Tehran's request.
Levitt added that Vice President JD Vance, who chaired the American delegation two weeks ago, will not participate in this visit but may join Whitcov and Kushner later if progress is made.
After Pakistan, Araghchi is scheduled to continue his regional tour to Muscat and Moscow "to conduct bilateral consultations, and discuss ongoing developments in the region," according to the official Iranian news agency "IRNA".
The Pakistani capital has been expecting the resumption of these talks for days, which started two weeks ago and stopped after hours, although the United States had unilaterally extended its ceasefire indefinitely.
The war in the Middle East, which erupted on February 28 with a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran, has resulted in thousands of deaths, especially in Iran and Lebanon, and has shaken the global economy.
Oil prices dropped slightly on Friday after the announcement of Araghchi's trip to Pakistan. However, shipping remains halted in the Strait of Hormuz, which before the war accounted for about 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas, and is currently under a dual Iranian and American blockade.
European Council President Antonio Costa confirmed on Friday that immediately reopening the Strait of Hormuz is "vital" for the entire world.
