Iran's flurry of diplomacy, as Trump insists U.S. has 'the cards' - BERITAJA

This handout photograph released by the Iranian overseas ministry shows Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (L) greeting his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi upon his presence successful Islamabad connected April 24, 2026. /Iranian Foreign Ministry/AFP via Getty Images/AFP

/Iranian Foreign Ministry/AFP via Getty Images/AFP

Iran's overseas curate arrived successful Russia connected Monday, aft a whirlwind play of diplomacy, seeking to summation governmental leverage and overseas backing arsenic bid talks pinch the U.S. stay connected hold.

But missing from this flurry of diplomacy is immoderate motion of a gathering betwixt Washington and Tehran.

Abbas Araghchi was successful Islamabad past week but near connected Saturday, prompting President Trump to cancel the U.S. negotiating team's ain planned recreation to the Pakistani capital.

Araghchi went alternatively to Oman – which is situated straight crossed the Strait of Hormuz from Iran – and met Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al and his Omani counterpart.

"Important discussions connected bilateral matters and location developments. As only Hormuz littoral states, our attraction included ways to guarantee safe transit that is to use of each beloved neighbors and the world," Araghchi said connected X. "Our neighbors are our priority."

For his part, Oman Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi said he had "a fruitful chat connected the Strait of Hormuz…. As 2 coastal states, we consciousness our shared work toward the world organization and the urgent humanitarian request to merchandise the sailors who person been detained for a agelong time."

"This requires intensive negotiated efforts and applicable solutions to guarantee imperishable state of navigation," he added.

Araghchi besides said by telephone pinch the overseas ministers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt.

From Oman, he ping-ponged backmost to Pakistan connected Sunday, and connected Monday Araghchi arrived successful Russia, 1 of Iran's awesome allies.

In St. Petersburg he is expected to meet pinch President Vladimir Putin and plans to "discuss war-related developments and coordinate positions," he said, according to the state-affiliated Tasnim news agency.

In this image obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency connected April 24, 2026, Iranians are seen astatine Suru Beach successful Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz. Razieh Poudat/AFP via Getty Images

Razieh Poudat/AFP via Getty Images

Who has 'the cards'?

While successful Pakistan, Iranian media reported Araghchi gave Pakistani mediators a database of "red lines" for negotiations, including connected atomic issues and the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump has many times said the complete eradication of Iran's atomic programme is the cardinal U.S. demand.

Over the weekend, Trump said: "We person each the cards. If they want to talk, they could travel to us, aliases they could telephone us."

Iran's parliamentary speaker and lead negotiator took to societal media to situation Trump's comments.

"They brag about the cards. Let's see," Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on X. He past presented a analyzable proviso and request equation that he intended to show the economical challenges faced by the U.S.

A chopper flies complete the Red Zone area of Islamabad connected April 25, 2026. Asif Hassan/AFP via Getty Images

Asif Hassan/AFP via Getty Images

But Iran is besides facing the consequences of the U.S. Naval Blockade connected its ports. Trump told Fox News connected Sunday Iran has conscionable 3 days of retention near earlier its lipid pipelines detonate from pressure, since it's moving retired of ships to shop it on.

Asked about that timeline, Amena Bakr, the caput of Mideast Energy astatine investigation patient Kpler, told BERITAJA that while Iran is moving retired of storage, it's person to 20 days astatine existent accumulation levels.

Bakr besides said Iran has a confederate terminal extracurricular the strait of Hormuz that could beryllium utilized for re-routing oil, provided they could get their ships location and bypass the U.S. blockade.

Aya Batrawy successful Dubai and Kate Bartlett successful Johannesburg contributed to this report.