Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is expected in the Pakistani capital Islamabad to discuss proposals for restarting peace talks with the United States but is not due to meet US negotiators, Pakistani government sources say.
Islamabad was the venue for talks between the United States and Iran on ending their war that collapsed earlier this week.
Iranian state media reported that Araqchi was beginning a trip that included visits to Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow.
The report made no mention of any direct talks with the US.
Two Pakistani government sources aware of the discussions told Reuters Araqchi's visit would be a brief one to discuss Iran's proposals for talks with the US, which mediator Pakistan would then convey to the United States.
Pakistani security sources told the DPA news agency Araqchi would be working on a counter-proposal as part of the negotiations with the US.
He would meet Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir but there were no plans for Araqchi to meet any US representatives, they said.
Reports on Araqchi's trip in Iranian state media and the Pakistani sources made no mention of Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Speaker of Iran's parliament, who was the head of its delegation at the only talks held so far earlier this month.
There was no direct response from the US to Araqchi's trip but US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking around the same time the news emerged, told a briefing that Iran had a chance to make a "good deal" with the United States.
"Iran knows that they still have an open window to choose wisely ... at the negotiating table. All they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon in meaningful and verifiable ways," he said.
US President Donald Trump unilaterally extended a ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, without giving a clear timeline on when it would expire.
with DPA
