Mashhad: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi engaged in discussions with Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Mashhad for the second consecutive day as part of ongoing mediation efforts involving the United States.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Iranian official news agency IRNA reported that Araghchi and Naqvi met at Shahid Hasheminejad International Airport. The specifics of their discussions remain undisclosed, but the meeting is set against the backdrop of efforts to mediate and extend a 60-day US-Iran ceasefire under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which is nearing expiration on August 17.

Pakistani government sources have indicated that both the US and Iran have expressed willingness to continue the ceasefire. A source close to the mediation efforts noted that both sides are in communication to finalize the terms of the extension.

This recent meeting follows a day after discussions in Tehran, where Araghchi and Naqvi addressed key diplomatic and bilateral matters. Naqvi's visit is part of Pakistan's ongoing efforts to promote dialogue between Iran and the US to resolve the conflict.

The talks are part of a larger diplomatic initiative that saw Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni visiting Islamabad previously. Both Pakistan and Qatar have played significant roles in facilitating the memorandum of understanding between the conflicting parties, which began with a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire in April.

Despite the initial progress with the signing of a deal on June 17, negotiations have faced obstacles due to disagreements over security guarantees and issues concerning the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route for global energy trade.

Tensions escalated between July 8 and July 24, with a series of military strikes exchanged between the US and Iran, highlighting the precarious nature of the ceasefire and the urgency for continued diplomatic negotiations.