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Iran’s Defense Ministry said Saturday that the United States is seeking a “face-saving” way to exit the war, as U.S. envoys traveled to Pakistan for renewed peace efforts.
“Our military power today is a dominant force, and the enemy is looking for a face-saving way to escape the war quagmire it has become trapped in,” a ministry spokesperson said, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency.
The remarks came as U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner headed to Islamabad for talks, although Iranian state media said direct negotiations with Washington are not planned.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir in Islamabad on Saturday as efforts continue to revive stalled negotiations.
A short video released by the Iranian embassy on X showed the meeting was also attended by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, National Security Adviser and Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Asim Malik, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, and Iran’s ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam.
While no further details were provided, Pakistani sources told Turkish news agency Anadolu that discussions focused on a potential second round of talks between Washington and Tehran in the coming days.
Araghchi arrived in Pakistan late Friday for meetings that officials say could pave the way for renewed negotiations. He is also expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
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Pakistan hosted the first round of talks in Islamabad two weeks ago following a two-week ceasefire brokered on April 8, which was later extended by United States President Donald Trump. The negotiations ended without agreement.
The White House confirmed that Witkoff and Kushner would travel to Pakistan as part of efforts to resume diplomacy.
Iran has repeatedly said it will not engage in direct talks with the United States and will instead communicate its position through Pakistani mediation.
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