Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Iran and Saudi Arabia&#39;s foreign ministers spoke by phone Monday, a day after a 21-hour round of direct Iran-US negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan. According to Iranian state media, IRNA, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed the latest regional developments. They also discussed the status of the talks between Tehran and Washington, which Pakistan hosted and mediated. Senior delegations from both Iran and the United States took part in Islamabad over the weekend. Pakistan said it would continue its mediation efforts. Monday&#39;s call was the second between the two foreign ministers since the onset of hostilities involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Saudi state news agency SPA confirmed the conversation, saying the two sides reviewed developments following the conclusion of the Islamabad Talks.

Iran and Saudi foreign ministers discussed Iran-US talks held in Islamabad, Pakistan, and Pakistan mediation efforts, in their second contact since the start of the war, on Monday, April 13, 2026. (International Crisis Group)

Middle East

The two leaders discussed direct Iran-US talks held in Islamabad, in their second contact since the start of the Middle East War.

Saudi, Iran FMs discuss developments post Islamabad Talks

Web Desk/AFP

ISLAMABAD: India&rsquo;s government on Monday advised all its citizens in Iran to leave the country immediately, citing a worsening security situation, according to the Indian Embassy in Tehran. The advisory covers students, pilgrims, business travelers, and tourists in Iran. The embassy in Tehran recommended departure by any available means, including commercial flights. <div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/hVDwTTdhja" style="font-size: 18px;">pic.twitter.com/hVDwTTdhja</a>&mdash; India in Iran (@India_in_Iran) <a href="https://twitter.com/India_in_Iran/status/2025823016672710921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="font-size: 18px;">February 23, 2026</a></blockquote></div> The advisory asked citizens to carry passports and identification, avoid protest areas, monitor local media, and stay in contact with the embassy for assistance.&nbsp;Emergency helplines were provided for immediate support. The warning comes ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s visit to Israel on Wednesday.&nbsp;Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Modi&rsquo;s trip would help build a new partnership to counter what he called &ldquo;radical&rdquo; threats. Modi first visited Israel in 2017, and Netanyahu visited India the following year.&nbsp;Modi said on Sunday that he looks forward to talks during the visit. &ldquo;India values its long-standing friendship with Israel, based on trust, innovation, and a shared commitment to peace and progress,&rdquo; he wrote on social media.&nbsp; India has expanded cooperation with Israel in defense, agriculture, technology, and security. US-Iran talks The move follows rising regional tensions and ongoing indirect&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iranus-talks-expected-thursday-despite-fears-of-strikes" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;" rel="noopener noreferrer">US-Iran negotiations</a>. Talks are scheduled to resume in Geneva on Feb. 26, 2026. Oman&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi will act as mediator, according to the Omani Foreign Ministry. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that &ldquo;guiding principles&rdquo; had been agreed upon, though technical details remain unresolved, AFP reported. US officials confirmed that progress was made but many issues are still under discussion, as per the US Department of State. Relations sour Relations between Iran and India have soured in recent months, with tensions increasing after India seized three Iranian-linked oil tankers on Feb. 17, 2026, enforcing US sanctions. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the move as a &ldquo;serious concern&rdquo; for trade and energy cooperation, as per official statements. The Chabahar Port project, a key trade route, faces uncertainty amid US sanctions. India holds a conditional waiver from the US Treasury valid until April 26, 2026, as per the Indian&nbsp;Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. India has transferred $120 million for port equipment, while a $250 million credit line remains unfulfilled due to sanctions, according to the MEA. Iranian authorities also detained 16 Indian seafarers aboard the MT Valiant Roar since Dec. 8, 2025, over alleged diesel smuggling, according to the MEA.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/crash-pakistan-airspace-ban-push-air-india-toward-16-billion-annual-loss" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Indian airline</a>&nbsp;carriers, including IndiGo, have suspended flights over Iranian airspace and nearby hubs until at least Feb. 28, 2026, citing security risks.

India advised all citizens in Iran to leave immediately, recommending any available transport including commercial flights. (Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA)

Asia

Indian nationals in Iran are advised to leave immediately with the embassy in Tehran urging nationals to carry travel documents, avoid protests, and stay updated on local media.

India advises citizens to leave Iran over security concerns

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, on Saturday spoke with Iran&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. According to Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two leaders discussed the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/internet-connectivity-in-iran-improves-slightly-netblocks" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">current situation</a> in Iran and the wider region. Dar expressed hope for peace and stability, and both sides agreed to continue bilateral consultations on matters of mutual interest.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 746px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2012390102509793696&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=cc4702313c36faf2a97d4ebfdadf06a71ae0e6a8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>&#39;Early normalization&#39;Earlier, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the UN, on Thursday said that the country hoped for an &ldquo;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-hopes-for-early-normalization-situation-in-iran-expresses-support-all-diplomatic-efforts" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">early normalization</a>&nbsp;of the situation in Iran,&rdquo; expressing support for all diplomatic efforts aimed at regional peace and stability.&nbsp; &ldquo;A stable and peaceful Iran is in the interest of Pakistan, the region, and beyond,&rdquo; Iftikhar said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 656px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2011947345001263561&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=cc4702313c36faf2a97d4ebfdadf06a71ae0e6a8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>

Foreign Affairs

Foreign ministers Dar and Araghchi discuss the current situation in Iran and the wider region; Dar expresses hope for peace and stability; both sides agree to continue bilateral consultations on matters of mutual interest.

Articles tagged with "Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi"

Saudi, Iran FMs discuss developments post Islamabad Talks

India advises citizens to leave Iran over security concerns

Pakistan FM expresses hope for peace in call with Iranian counterpart

Saudi, Iran FMs discuss developments post Islamabad Talks