Negotiations between Washington and Tehran appear to be reopening, with possible meetings over the weekend in Islamabad between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the pair of American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, departing for the Pakistani capital.
In the background are the internal conflicts within the ayatollahs’ regime, while the supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, an amputee and disfigured in the face, seems incapable of holding the reins of the country. The speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf resigned as head of the Iranian negotiating team after coming under fire from hawks for his open-minded line, in particular for attempting to include the nuclear issue in the talks with the USA.
But his place was not taken by intransigent figures: it was assumed Saeed Jalili, ultra-fundamentalist representative of the Supreme Leader at the Supreme National Security Council, instead Araghchi arrived in Pakistan, a diplomat who played a key role in the negotiations that led to the Iranian nuclear agreement in 2015 and considered a pragmatist, in favor of dialogue and negotiation with the West.
This could mean that the tug of war continues in the Islamic Republic between the extremist wing of the Pasdaran, embodied by their general Ahmad Vahidi, the butcher of the Iranian streets, and the moderate one.
Araqchi’s mission is broader, and includes visits not only to Islamabad (which is said to have sent Iran new proposals for negotiations), but also to Muscat – the capital of Oman, a mediator country together with Pakistan – and to Moscow: Tehran’s main ally, which has offered support to the negotiations by offering to safeguard Iranian enriched uranium. «Leaving for a timely tour to Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow.
The purpose of my visits is to coordinate closely with our partners on bilateral issues and consult on regional developments. Our neighbors are our priority,” Araghchi wrote on X.
According to Pakistani sources cited by Reuters, Tehran’s diplomatic chief will discuss with his counterparts his position on the proposal for talks with the United States, which will then be presented to Washington. For now, however, the Iranians have not confirmed their participation in the meeting with the US delegation. But it is difficult to imagine that the White House will announce the departure of Witkoff and Kushner on an empty trip.
Out of prudence, however, and perhaps also to avoid further damaging his candidacy for the White House, Vice President JD Vance, who until now had led the US team, remains on the bench: ready to leave only if there is progress in the talks, the White House specified. In any case, some members of his staff will be present in Pakistan to participate in the new round of negotiations. Donald Trump has not provided a timeline for resolving the war with Iran, even though May 1st expires 60 days after which he must ask Congress for authorization under the War Powers Act.
“Don’t rush me,” he responded to the reporters who pressed him, explaining that he wants “an agreement that lasts” and evoking the difficulties linked to internal Iranian conflicts (“they are like cats and dogs”). Having nosedived in the polls and held in diplomatic check by Tehran, now however he no longer issues ultimatums which are promptly revoked. “We have all the time in the world,” echoed Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, assuring that “Iran has the chance to make a good deal” but threatening that otherwise the US army “is ready to strike again.”
The US defense secretary then warned that the blockade of Hormuz will continue “for as long as necessary, whatever President Trump decides”, and dismissed as “useless chatter” the talks hosted by Paris and London on how to restore freedom of navigation in the strait. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu reported having had “an excellent conversation” with Trump. “He is putting very strong pressure on Iran, both economically and militarily. We are operating in full cooperation,” he assured.