Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to travel to Pakistan on Friday, according to sources in Islamabad and the country’s state broadcaster, fuelling optimism for a second round of talks between Washington and Tehran.

According to a source, Araghchi will travel with a “small team”, arriving by Friday night, Pakistan time.

A Pakistani official told the South China Morning Post that the Pakistani foreign ministry would make a formal announcement once there was final confirmation of the visit.

The Iranian foreign ministry has not made any statement on the issue.

US security teams are already in the Pakistani capital, according to Pakistan TV, while US media outlets have said that a delegation from Washington could arrive in Islamabad by Saturday, local time.