MOSCOW (Realist English). Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is continuing his regional tour despite US President Donald Trump cancelling the trip of his envoys to Pakistan.
On 26 April, Araghchi left Islamabad and headed to Russia, where on 27 April he will meet with President Vladimir Putin.
At the same time, the situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border has sharply deteriorated — the ceasefire is cracking, with casualties rising on both sides.
Diplomatic tour: Pakistan — Oman — Russia
According to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, Araghchi flew from Islamabad to Moscow. Iran’s ambassador to Russia confirmed that the foreign minister will “consult with Russian officials on the latest status of the negotiations, the ceasefire and surrounding developments.”
Earlier over the weekend, Araghchi visited Oman, where he met with senior diplomat Najib bin Yahya al-Balushi, and also held telephone talks with the foreign ministers of Egypt, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Iranian media characterised the content of these calls as “diplomacy, the ceasefire and the latest regional developments.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot expressed hope that the dialogue would lead to peace, while Araghchi stressed “the importance of European countries playing a constructive role” in a long‑term ceasefire.
Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, thanked the Pakistani leadership for their “tireless efforts” to end the war.
Trump: ‘If they want to talk, they can call’
In a Fox News interview on 26 April, Trump explained in detail his decision to cancel the trip of his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son‑in‑law Jared Kushner to Islamabad.
“By the time they get there, it’s hours and hours and hours of flying,” Trump said. “I said, ‘We’re not doing this anymore. We have all the cards.’ If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us.”
Vice President JD Vance, according to CNN, was on standby and ready to travel to Pakistan in the event of progress. However, US negotiators physically could not arrive in Islamabad before the Iranian delegation’s departure — the flight took at least 17 hours.
Trump also reiterated that the war could “come to an end very soon” and that the US “is going to be very victorious.”
Araghchi questions Washington’s seriousness
Araghchi himself earlier said it was unclear whether the US is “truly serious about diplomacy” after the cancellation. At the same time, official Tehran still denies the possibility of direct meetings with Americans. On 25 April, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei wrote on X that “no meeting is planned between Iran and the United States.”
Lebanon: ceasefire under threat, casualties reported
On 26 April, the Israeli military reported the death of 19‑year‑old Sergeant Idan Fooks in fighting in southern Lebanon. He is the 16th IDF soldier killed in the region since the start of the war with Iran (eight weeks ago). Four other soldiers were seriously wounded.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an attack on Israeli forces in the town of Taybeh using a loitering glider, reporting a “confirmed hit.”
At the same time, the IDF said it would investigate allegations of widespread looting by Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon. Earlier, the Haaretz newspaper, citing anonymous soldiers, reported that theft from Lebanese homes and shops is “widespread.” The army responded that “any harm to civilian property and any acts of looting are strictly prohibited” and promised an investigation. Military police are already conducting checks at border crossings.
Earlier this month, in the Lebanese village of Debel, an Israeli soldier vandalised a statue of Jesus Christ, causing international outrage. The army apologised, and two soldiers received 30 days in military detention.
Experts: ‘Oil will not explode’
Trump also claimed in the interview that due to the blockade, Iranian oil pipelines would “explode within three days for mechanical and geological reasons.” Experts rejected this.
“When tankers are no longer available to load oil, onshore inventories fill up, and production is cut. That has already happened in Iraq, Kuwait and the UAE. No explosions have occurred so far,” Andy Lipow of Lipow Oil Associates told CNN. He stressed: “The oil will not explode.”
Israel secretly deployed Iron Dome to UAE
An Israeli source confirmed to CNN that during the war with Iran, Israel for the first time ever deployed an Iron Dome air defence system and dozens of soldiers to the United Arab Emirates.
The decision was made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a call with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.
The UAE was targeted by Iran with more than 550 ballistic and cruise missiles and 2,200 drones. The system intercepted dozens of Iranian missiles. This is the first operational deployment of an Israeli air defence system on another country’s territory.