Unclear if direct talks will be held

It is unclear whether the Iranian side will meet directly with the U.S. envoys who are heading to Iran.

Iranian state television said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had no plans to meet with the Americans, and Islamabad would serve as a bridge to "convey" Iranian proposals.

Pakistan's foreign ministry said Araghchi had arrived in Islamabad Friday to discuss "ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability" with Pakistani officials, without directly referencing talks with Witkoff and Kushner.

An Iranian spokesman said Araghchi would later visit Oman and Russia to discuss efforts to end the war.

Tehran's defense ministry, in a statement carried by news agency ISNA, said "the enemy is looking for a face-saving way to escape the war quagmire it has become trapped in."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had said Friday that "the Iranians want to talk," and "they want to talk in person."