Pakistan Confirms: Peace Efforts Ongoing and We Await Araqchi's Response

SadaNews - After U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his warnings to Iran to expedite an agreement that would end the war, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif confirmed that his government continues its efforts to help ease tensions between the United States and Iran.

Sharif also added during a cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday that a "marathon session" was held in the capital during the first round of direct talks between the two sides on April 11, which led to progress in the ceasefire, which is still in place today.

He also noted that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi visited Pakistan over the weekend, where another lengthy round of talks between Iran and Pakistan took place. He added that Araqchi later traveled to Oman and then returned briefly before departing for Russia.

Immediate Response

Sharif stated that the Iranian minister spoke to him by phone before leaving for Moscow, where he "confirmed that after consultations with his leadership, he will respond as soon as possible."

However, Sharif did not specify the nature of Araqchi's response. But Pakistan had previously mentioned that it seeks to host a second round of talks between the United States and Iran.

This comes after a senior Pakistani official confirmed earlier today that his country continues to work on bridging the gaps between the American and Iranian sides.

The Iranians are Slow

Another Pakistani government official revealed that "the Iranians are painfully slow in their responses."

He added that "there does not seem to be a unified leadership willing to make decisions," noting that responses sometimes take two or three days, according to Reuters.

Trump has spoken repeatedly about divisions within Iran that delay reaching an agreement. Iranian officials, however, have denied this claim in all its forms.

It is worth noting that Araqchi presented a new proposal to end the war during his recent visit to Islamabad last weekend, but the Trump administration did not express satisfaction with the proposal.

Meanwhile, informed American sources have stated that Tehran will present a revised proposal in the coming days, while no official comment has yet been issued from the Iranian side.