IRNA: Araghchi, Jaishankar discuss latest ceasefire and India-Iran ties amid West Asia tensions

Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iran’s official state news agency, said today that Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a phone conversation to discuss the latest regional developments, including the ceasefire situation and bilateral ties.

In a post on X, IRNA said: “Foreign Minister @araghchi and his Indian counterpart @DrSJaishankar in a phone conversation discussed the latest developments related to the ceasefire, bilateral relations, and regional and international developments.”

The conversation comes amid continuing diplomatic activity in West Asia following heightened tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Recent weeks have seen continued efforts to stabilize the fragile ceasefire.

India maintains diplomatic outreach

India has maintained regular contact with Iranian leaders amid the ongoing crisis. Jaishankar and Araghchi have spoken in recent months as tensions in West Asia escalated. Previous conversations between the two leaders focused on regional security, bilateral cooperation and diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation.

India has repeatedly emphasized the need for dialogue, restraint and the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the region, while also monitoring the impact of instability on energy security.

Iran has been actively engaging Pakistan, Oman and Russia as discussions continue around ceasefire arrangements and regional security issues.

Uncertainty over US-Iran peace talks

The development comes amid uncertainty surrounding a possible second round of peace talks between Washington and Tehran.

The first round of negotiations, held on 11 and 12 April, reportedly failed to produce a breakthrough.

Araghchi travelled to Pakistan before travelling to Russia and described his discussions there as “very productive,” including consultations with Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir.

He also visited Oman, where he discussed security in the Strait of Hormuz with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.

Uncertainty surrounds next round of US-Iran peace talks

Fresh uncertainty has emerged over the future of peace negotiations between the United States and Iran after the first round of talks earlier this month failed to produce a breakthrough, even as diplomatic activity across the region continues to intensify.

The initial round of negotiations, held on 11 and 12 April, reportedly failed to deliver the outcome either side had hoped for, leaving the path forward unclear amid ongoing tensions linked to the wider conflict in the Gulf region.

Araghchi steps up regional diplomacy

Araghchi has continued a series of diplomatic visits to Russia aimed at building support and discussing ceasefire efforts.

Araghchi travelled to Pakistan for the second time on Sunday following a brief stop in Oman, where he met Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.

According to Iranian officials, discussions in Oman focused on security in the Strait of Hormuz and on diplomatic initiatives to end the ongoing Iran-US conflict.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important waterways, handling a significant share of global oil shipments.

Donald Trump halts Islamabad talks plan

After Araghchi left Pakistan for Oman, US President Donald Trump announced that US negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, would no longer travel to Islamabad for discussions with Iranian officials.

Trump argued that Washington currently “held all the cards” in negotiations with Tehran.

Despite suspending the Islamabad meeting plan, Trump signalled that diplomacy remains possible and said US and Iranian officials could still communicate directly by phone to pursue a peaceful resolution.

Ceasefire extended indefinitely

Last Tuesday, Trump announced an indefinite extension of the temporary ceasefire with Iran, just hours before the original two-week truce was due to expire.

According to US officials, the extension was intended to provide Tehran additional time to prepare what Washington described as a “unified proposal” aimed at ending the conflict.

The ceasefire extension temporarily eased fears of an immediate return to large-scale fighting in the Gulf region, though tensions remain high.

Conflict spread across Gulf region

The war began on 28 February when the United States and Israel jointly launched strikes against Iran. The attacks killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with several senior military commanders.

Iran responded with retaliatory military action that expanded the conflict across parts of the Gulf region, raising international concerns over regional stability, energy security and global oil supplies.

Trump claims Iran is in a ‘state of collapse’

Meanwhile, Trump claimed on Tuesday that Iran had privately requested US assistance to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“Iran has just informed us that they are in a ‘State of Collapse.’ They want us to ‘Open the Hormuz Strait,’ as soon as possible as they try to figure out their leadership situation,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The remarks came amid reports that Iran had proposed ending restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz if the United States lifted its blockade and halted the war.

However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a Fox News interview, signalled opposition to any agreement that excluded Iran’s nuclear program from negotiations.

White House reviewing fresh proposal

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that a new proposal to end the conflict and reopen the strategically vital waterway had been discussed by Trump and his national security team.

“The proposal was being discussed,” Leavitt told reporters.

“I wouldn’t say they are considering it. I would just say that there was a discussion this morning that I don’t want to get ahead of.”

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, with a significant share of global energy shipments passing through the narrow waterway.