Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stated in calls with his counterparts in Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia that Tehran, despite its "absolute suspicion" toward Washington, has entered a new round of negotiations with Pakistan's mediation. Araghchi also described U.S. and Israeli military actions as a "factor of insecurity" in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, and emphasized that Iran's armed forces are ready for "resolute defense" without having initiated any war.