Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, is scheduled to visit Islamabad, Pakistan, a development that has sparked optimism for renewed discussions aimed at resolving the conflict in the Middle East.
Araqchi will commence his journey on Friday, which will include stops in Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow, according to Iranian state media.
“The objective of this visit is to engage in bilateral consultations and to address current regional developments, as well as the latest circumstances surrounding the war imposed by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran,” stated the state news agency IRNA.
In the meantime, the Iranian ambassador has informed the BBC that the United States must lift its blockade on Iranian ports if negotiations are to proceed between the two nations.
During an interview with BBC Radio 4’s World at One program, Ali Bahreini, the Iranian ambassador to the UN in Geneva, described the blockade as a “significant breach” of the ceasefire.
He emphasized that they are not seeking negotiations merely to provide the “other side” with an opportunity to prepare for further aggression against Iran.
He urged for a “realistic approach from the United States by acknowledging Iran’s rights and reasonable demands.”
In a separate incident, Indonesia has once again condemned an Israeli assault in Lebanon that led to the death of a fourth Indonesian peacekeeper, as reported by the foreign ministry on Friday.
The peacekeeper suffered critical injuries from an artillery shell fired by an Israeli tank on March 29, and the ministry announced on Friday that he has succumbed to his injuries. Three other Indonesian peacekeepers also lost their lives as a result of the attack.
Indonesia has called on the UN to carry out a comprehensive, transparent, and accountable investigation into the fatalities of its peacekeepers.
War: Hope returns as Iran’s foreign minister set for trip to Pakistan