Iran Says Pakistan, Qatar Exchanging Messages but US Talks Not Resumed

TEHRAN, IRAN — WEB DESK: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Pakistan and Qatar are among third countries exchanging messages with Tehran, but stressed that the indirect contacts should not be interpreted as the resumption of negotiations between Iran and the United States.

Araghchi said Tehran had not yet made a decision on whether to restart negotiations with Washington, drawing a distinction between diplomatic communications conducted through intermediaries and formal talks between the two sides.

“Third countries, including Pakistan and Qatar, are exchanging messages with Iran,” Araghchi said, according to Iranian media reports cited by Express News. He added that the exchange of messages did not mean negotiations with the United States were taking place.

No decision yet on restarting US-Iran talks

Araghchi’s comments come amid renewed international attention on whether diplomatic channels could eventually lead to direct or indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Pakistan and Qatar have maintained diplomatic relations with Iran while also engaging closely with the United States, positioning both countries as potential channels for communication during periods of heightened regional tensions.

However, Araghchi made clear that Tehran had not yet decided to formally return to negotiations with Washington.

The distinction is significant because diplomatic messages exchanged through third countries can be used to clarify positions, communicate warnings or explore possible areas of compromise without constituting formal negotiations.

Iran responds to Trump’s Hormuz remarks

Separately, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded strongly to remarks attributed to US President Donald Trump concerning the Strait of Hormuz.

Gharibabadi said decisions over opening or closing the strategic waterway would remain Iran’s prerogative and insisted that Tehran would not be intimidated by US threats or displays of military power.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime passages, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

Any disruption to shipping through the waterway can have significant implications for global energy markets because of the large volume of oil and liquefied natural gas transported through the route.

Washington signals further economic pressure

Trump has also said the United States is preparing to increase economic pressure on Iran in an effort to push Tehran towards ending the conflict.

The combination of economic pressure, military tensions and indirect diplomatic contacts has left uncertainty over whether Washington and Tehran could eventually return to formal negotiations.

For now, Iran’s public position remains that communications through countries such as Pakistan and Qatar are continuing, but those exchanges should not be characterised as renewed US-Iran negotiations.

Any formal return to the negotiating table would require a separate political decision by Tehran, according to Araghchi’s remarks.