IRAN WAR LATEST: Iranian official returns to Pakistan as Trump says talks will resume over phone

Abbas Araghchi speaking to regional leaders and is expected to visit Moscow

Published Apr 26, 2026  •  3 minute read

In this photo released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, meets with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, in Muscat, Oman, Sunday, April 26, 2026. Photo by Iranian Foreign Ministry via AP

Efforts to revive talks to end the war in the Middle East appear to have stalled again as Iran’s foreign minister was said to be heading back to Pakistan on Sunday, while U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiations will happen over the phone.

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Iranian state media said Abbas Araghchi had left Pakistan’s capital late Saturday, but returned to Islamabad after travelling to Oman.

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Araghchi was reportedly visiting mediators in Pakistan and Oman on Sunday before travelling to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On Friday, the White House said it was sending envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad for a second round of talks. But Trump scrapped the trip Saturday, stating it wasn’t worth the lengthy flight to Pakistan for what he thought would end with minimal progress in the talks.

“I’ll deal with whoever we have to, but there’s no reason to wait two days, have people travelling for 16, 17 hours,” Trump told reporters Saturday before he departed for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. “We’re not doing it that way. When they want, they can call me.”

Last week, the U.S. president announced he was indefinitely extending the ceasefire that U.S. and Iran agreed to on April 7, which has largely halted the fighting that began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28.

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Iran, whose coastline faces the Strait of Hormuz, has responded to the attacks by effectively shutting shipping traffic along the vital passageway, which carries exports from Persian Gulf states — particularly 20% of the world’s crude oil.

The U.S., meanwhile, is maintaining its naval blockade of Iranian ports in an effort to push Tehran to reach a peace deal.

Here is the latest news on the war on Sunday:

Iran’s talks with Oman focuses on strait

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Oman as part of his discussions with regional leaders, where he sought support from its maritime neighbour over the Islamic Republic’s decision to collect tolls from vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to an Associated Press report, citing a regional official.

Oman’s response wasn’t immediately clear.

The official, who is involved in mediation efforts, also said Iran insists on ending the U.S. blockade before a new round of talks and that Pakistan-led mediators are trying to bridge significant gaps between the countries.

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Araghchi also spoke by phone with counterparts in Qatar and Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Even before Saturday’s developments, Iran’s foreign ministry said any talks would be indirect and Pakistani officials would act as go-betweens, reflecting Tehran’s wariness after rounds of indirect talks last year and earlier this year ended with Iran being attacked by the U.S. and Israel.

About Iranian official’s visit to Russia

After his second trip to Pakistan this weekend wraps up on Sunday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to depart for Russia, CNN reported, citing state media.

On Monday, he’ll meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and “consult with Russian officials on the latest status of the negotiations, the ceasefire and surrounding developments,” Iranian semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency reported, per CNN.

Trump says Iran revised its proposal

The U.S. president said Iran sent a “much better” proposal within 10 minutes of him cancelling Witkoff and Kushner’s trip to Islamabad on Saturday.

He did not elaborate on Iran’s proposal, but stressed that one of his conditions is that Iran “will not have a nuclear weapon.”

When pressed for specifics, he only said, “they offered a lot, but not enough,” before he walked off to board his plane to attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday.

The status of Iran’s enriched uranium has long been at the centre of tensions. Tehran has 440 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels, according to the UN nuclear watchdog agency.

— with files from The Associated Press

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