Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with the commander of the Pakistani army, Field Marshal Asim Munir, as part of an official visit to Islamabad.

The Iranian Foreign Minister arrived in Islamabad on Friday.

In this context, Iranian television reported that Araghchi is carrying Tehran’s response to proposals presented by the commander of the Pakistani army during his visit to the Pakistani capital.

It explained that the response is comprehensive and takes into account all of Tehran’s remarks.

Iranian leaders oppose the way Qalibaf is managing the negotiations

In parallel, the Wall Street Journal quoted informed sources as saying that internal divisions within the Iranian leadership are hindering progress in the ongoing negotiation process. The sources indicated that a number of Iranian leaders oppose making any concessions, while mediators have expressed concern over the escalation of these disagreements.

وصل وزير الخارجية الإيراني عباس عراقجي إلى باكستان للتشاور مع إسلام آباد، حيث أكد عدم وجود أي خطط للقاء مع الأميركيين هناك أو بحث الملف النووي خلال هذه الزيارة. pic.twitter.com/fiKTEBOSmw

— Annahar Al Arabi (@AnnaharAr) April 25, 2026

It also noted that the commander of the Revolutionary Guard is among those opposing concessions, which indicates a hardline stance within some decision-making circles.

In the same context, the sources revealed that Mahmoud Nabavian, a member of the Iranian negotiation delegation, has publicly criticized the way Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf is managing the negotiations, amid broader objections from Iranian leaders to his handling of this file.

Araghchi's arrival in Pakistan (AFP).

US envoys head to Pakistan to begin a new round of negotiations with Iran

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are heading to the Pakistani capital on Saturday in an effort to launch a new round of negotiations with Iran under a fragile ceasefire, although the possibility of direct talks remains uncertain.

The White House stated that Witkoff and Kushner will hold in person talks with representatives of the Iranian side, but Iranian media indicated that direct negotiations are not on the table.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that the American envoys will travel to Pakistan today to hold talks with representatives of the Iranian delegation.

She said that the Iranians, as called for by the president, reached out and requested that these talks be held directly, expressing hope that the talks would be productive and help advance progress toward reaching an agreement.

Reasons for Vance’s absence from the talks

It also indicated that US Vice President JD Vance, who led the first round of negotiations in Islamabad that ended without an agreement two weeks ago, will not join the talks for the time being, but will remain ready to travel to Pakistan if necessary.

According to the Washington Post, Vance’s absence reflects a downgrade in diplomatic representation following the failure of the previous round to reach an agreement to end the war.

US officials told the newspaper that the decision for Vance not to attend this round reflects its lower diplomatic level, noting that Iran will also not send its chief negotiator, who is Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.

The same officials explained that Vance’s absence is consistent with diplomatic protocol, which stipulates that the Vice President should not travel such a long distance to Pakistan unless he is going to negotiate with an equivalent counterpart at the same level.

They also stated that Vance’s absence from Islamabad could make it easier for the White House to manage the media fallout if Iran withdraws from the talks or presents demands that Washington sees as unacceptable.

They added that the presence of the presidential aircraft, with its security and operational requirements, raises expectations for the negotiations and makes it more difficult to justify any potential embarrassment from the Iranian side.

Qalibaf at the center of the storm

Rumors over the past hours have focused on Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, claiming that he had resigned due to disagreements among power centers in the country over the Iranian American talks. This prompted the parliament’s media office to completely deny the reports.

The head of the Iranian Parliament’s Communications, Media, and Cultural Affairs Center, Iman Shamsi, stated on Friday evening that the rumors being circulated are aimed solely at stirring public opinion.

He confirmed that Qalibaf continues to carry out his duties seriously, stressing that there has been no change in the composition of the negotiating team with the American side.