Iran Rejects Direct US Talks as Envoys Head to Islamabad

Iran has firmly ruled out direct negotiations with the United States, even as senior American envoys prepare to visit Islamabad for discussions expected to touch on Tehran’s position.

The White House said Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will arrive in Pakistan’s capital on Saturday, amid renewed diplomatic efforts to ease tensions involving Iran.

Tehran, however, has made clear that no face-to-face engagement is on the table. A spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Iran will not hold direct talks with Washington and will instead convey its stance through Pakistani intermediaries.

The visit comes as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is in Islamabad as part of a regional tour aimed at strengthening coordination with key partners. Diplomatic sources say Pakistan is playing a quiet facilitation role, with officials describing the atmosphere as “cautiously optimistic” despite limited expectations for an immediate breakthrough.

At the same time, tensions remain high elsewhere in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces retain “full freedom of action” in Lebanon, despite a three-week extension of a fragile ceasefire. The group Hezbollah has dismissed the extension, citing continued Israeli strikes.

The Israeli military said six Hezbollah fighters were killed in southern Lebanon. Lebanese health authorities, however, reported that Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed 2,491 people and injured 7,719 others, highlighting the ongoing human cost of the conflict.