This visit follows a prior meeting with Omani officials in Muscat, where Iran sought to gather both regional and global support for renewed negotiations. A temporary ceasefire was agreed upon by Washington and Tehran on April 8, after over a month of violence triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Although this truce, facilitated by Pakistan, has faced challenges due to disagreements over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and a US blockade on Iranian ports, a related conflict involving Israel and Lebanon adds more complexity to the situation. Tohid Asadi from Al Jazeera, reporting from Tehran, noted that Russia is likely to be a crucial player in the next stage of the conflict. He pointed out, “We have a scenario for diplomatic resolution and another for confrontation. Russia will be key in both areas, so Iran’s Foreign Minister is there for talks about likely scenarios.” He indicated that Iran has various demands and is prioritizing them based on the circumstances, including concerns regarding the Strait of Hormuz, the potential extension of the ceasefire, or the risk of further conflict. This diplomatic initiative comes as US President Donald Trump canceled plans for Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner to visit Islamabad for discussions with Iran, citing significant "infighting and confusion" within Tehran's leadership. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that Tehran would not engage in negotiations while the blockade is in effect. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that its forces are actively enforcing the blockade to restrict ships from entering or leaving Iranian waters, stating, “American forces have directed 38 ships to turn around or return to port.” Trump commented that Iran had made "a lot of offers, but not enough," and added that Iranian leaders could reach out if they wished to renew talks. Earlier, Araghchi described the discussions in Islamabad as "very productive," noting they focused on "the specific conditions under which negotiations between Iran and the US could resume."
