Claim: An image shows the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arriving in Islamabad in late April 2026.
Fact: The image appeared online as early as November 2024, and hence it is unrelated to his recent visit.
Soon after Araghchi landed in Pakistan on 24 April, several users posted an image apparently showing his arrival in Islamabad for a potential second round of peace talks. However, the talks eventually did not take place.
Reports had indicated that the US would send Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, for another round of negotiations. However, the US president cancelled the delegation’s trip to Pakistan.
Furthermore, the US President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran on 21 April before the second round of peace talks, which did not take place.
The first round of peace talks between Iran and the US took place in Islamabad, Pakistan, on 11 April, amid the temporary ceasefire announced on 7 April, bringing a halt to a month-long Israel-US war with Iran. The two sides previously failed to reach an agreement during peace talks held in Islamabad.
After his short stay in Pakistan, Araghchi left for Oman before returning to the country again. He left for Russia on 26 April after his second visit to Pakistan in just two days.
Fact or Fiction?
Reverse-searching the photo showed it is likely from Araghchi’s visit to Islamabad in November 2024 and not April 2026 as claimed by the posts being factchecked.
An X handle posted multiple images (archive) of the Iranian foreign minister on 5 November 2024, with the following caption: “#Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad, #Pakistan for talks on regional developments and bilateral relations.”
The first image matches the one being factchecked confirming the photo is not from Araghchi’s visit to Islamabad this month.
On the left is the image circulating in April 2026, which matches the one from November 2024.
The Iranian foreign minister visited Pakistan to discuss improving bilateral relations between the two countries as well as escalating tensions in the Middle East at the time.
Another X account also posted the same images on 5 November 2024, confirming the image does not show Araghchi’s recent visit to Pakistan.
Further searches led to a post by X handle of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan from 5 November 2024, which shared other images of the Iranian Foreign Minister being received by Pakistani officials at the time. “Foreign Minister of Iran Seyed Abbas Araghchi @Araghchi has arrived in Islamabad. He was welcomed at the airport by Additional Foreign Secretary (Afghanistan & West Asia) Ambassador Ahmed Naseem Warraich,” the X post said.
Moreover, the Iranian Foreign Ministry published the original image of Araghchi’s arrival in Pakistan this month on 24 April 2026. In this photo, army chief Field Marshall Asim Munir and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also appear beside the Iranian foreign minister.
Photo published by the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs on 24 April 2026.
Other images of Araghchi’s arrival in Pakistan this month were also published by credible publications, but none of them include the image in the claim.
Soch Fact Check, therefore, concludes that the image is misleading as it is not from Araghchi’s recent visit to Pakistan.
Virality
The misleading image was posted on Facebook here, here, here, here, here (second image), here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
BBC Urdu’s Facebook account also published the misleading image. Neo News posted the same image on its Facebook page here.
It was shared on Instagram here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, and here on Threads.
The image appeared on X here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
An X handle of Iranian embassy in Pakistan also posted the image here.
Conclusion: The viral image linked to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s arrival in Pakistan in April 2026 is old. It is likely from his visit to Islamabad in November 2024.
Background image in cover photo: Anadolu Agency
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