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The United States and Israel are “responsible” for the ongoing regional instability and its global impact, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Pakistani counterpart, according to Iran’s Fars news agency on Sunday.
During a phone call with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Araghchi also emphasized Iran’s “firm determination” to continue defending the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity "using all means.”
In recent days, Pakistan and Ishaq Dar have been urging the warring parties to reach a solution to the military impasse and have emphasized the importance of “continuing consultations” to achieve that goal.
Meanwhile, Araghchi on Saturday rejected U.S. media claims that talks facilitated by Pakistan to end the Middle East conflict had broken down.
“Iran’s position is being misrepresented by U.S. media,” Araghchi said in a statement on the U.S. social media company X.
His statement came a day after The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran was “unwilling to meet U.S. officials in Islamabad in the coming days and considers U.S. demands unacceptable.”
Araghchi instead thanked Islamabad for its mediation efforts.
“We 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,” the Iranian foreign minister said.
“Long live Pakistan,” Araghchi wrote at the end of his statement in Urdu, Pakistan’s national language.
Islamabad swiftly responded to Araghchi’s statement, thanking him for the clarification.
“Truly appreciate your clarification, my dear brother Aragchi,” Dar said in a post on X.
Pakistan has positioned itself as a potential mediator between the U.S. and Iran by leveraging its relations with Tehran and Washington as well as its strategic and defense partnerships with China and Saudi Arabia.
U.S. President Donald Trump has given Iran until Monday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that he would launch punishing strikes if Tehran fails to comply.
“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social.
“Time is running out - 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them,” he added.
On March 26, Trump said he had extended Iran’s nuclear negotiation deadline to 10 days partly because Tehran sent him 10 Pakistani-flagged oil tankers as a goodwill gesture.
The region has been on alert since the U.S. and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people to date, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting U.S. military assets. Iran has also restricted the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
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