Even as the manhunt unfolds in the Iranian highlands, a parallel battle is being fought over narratives and negotiation. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused US media of misrepresenting Tehran’s position on peace talks, writing on X: “We are deeply grateful to Pakistan for its efforts and have never refused to go to Islamabad. What we care about are the terms of a conclusive and lasting END to the illegal war that is imposed on us.”
Araghchi shared a video of Iranians waving Pakistani flags, ending his post with “Pakistan Zindabad” in Urdu — a pointed gesture of gratitude toward Islamabad’s mediation efforts. The diplomatic picture, however, remains murky. Italian newsweekly L’Espresso described the American strategy as one of “bombs and negotiations, announcements and denials,” arguing that what was supposed to be a lightning war has become a quagmire, with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu now pushing for a ground offensive. The New York Times editorial board characterized Trump’s simultaneous battles — from Tehran to the Supreme Court — as “utterly incoherent.”