'The whole world needs this:' Pakistanis hope for successful US-Iran peace talks

Locals in Islamabad on Saturday (April 25) were said they were hopeful for U.S-Iran peace talks, a day after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi arrived in Pakistan to discuss proposals for restarting peace talks with the U.S.

U.S. negotiators are scheduled to leave for Pakistan on Saturday, but Iran said its officials did not plan to meet the Americans to discuss ending the war that has killed thousands and roiled global markets.

“May God grant that these negotiations are successful,” said Islamabad resident Moazzam Khan.

“The whole world needs this, the region needs this peace and it would be good if all their outstanding issues are resolved through peace and negotiations,” he added.

U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are due to depart on Saturday morning for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, the White House said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that Iran had a chance to make a "good deal" with the United States.

Washington and Tehran are at a costly impasse as Iran has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries one-fifth of global oil shipments, while the U.S. blocks Iran's oil exports. The conflict, entering its ninth week, has pushed energy prices to multi-year highs, stoking inflation and darkening global growth prospects.

-Waseem Sattar, Shahabuddin Shahab/Reuters