US and Iran begin negotiations in Islamabad Iranian and US delegations have begun negotiations in Islamabad, Iranian media reported. The talks come shortly after Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, questioned whether the US was acting in good faith. "It remains to be seen whether the US honours the mediation efforts of the host in good office or [not]," Moghadam said.
Erdogan and Macron discuss US-Iran ceasefire talks Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has discussed the US-Iran ceasefire talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in a phone call on Saturday. Macron posted on X: "We initially discussed the situation in the Middle East, and called for all parties to respect the ceasefire and to make sure this applies to Lebanon, and for all parties to respect the freedom of navigation in the Straits of Hormuz, and we highlighted the importance of getting a strong and lasting diplomatic solution.
Pakistani PM says he 'appreciated Iran's engagement' Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said he "appreciated Iran's engagement" after meeting the Iranian delegation, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Sharif's office said Pakistan wanted to "continue playing its role as a mediator to help build momentum towards achieving meaningful results in the interest of regional and global peace and stability".
Israeli attacks kill 10 in southern Lebanon The death toll from Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday has risen to 10, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The ministry said three strikes hit Nabatieh city and killed three emergency workers. It condemned what it described as Israel’s “systematic” targeting of emergency personnel.
Pakistani fighter jets land in Saudi Arabia as part of defence pact Pakistani fighter jets and support aircraft have landed at King Abdulaziz Air Base in Saudi Arabia as part of the defence pact between the two countries. The Saudi defence ministry said the deployment aimed to strengthen military coordination between the two countries and enhance operational readiness, according to Al Jazeera. The pact, signed last September, commits both countries to treating an act of aggression against one as an attack on both.
‘I wished for death’: Sexual violence in Israel’s prisons is an ‘organised state policy’ Submitted by Katherine Hearst on Thu, 04/09/2026 - 14:12 Palestinian testimonies reveal how sexual violence, including rape using objects and dogs, is approved by 'highest levels' of Israeli leadership Soldiers lock a gate at Sde Teiman detention facility after Israeli military police arrived as part of an investigation into the suspected abuse of a Palestinian detainee on 29 July 2025 (Reuters) Off Sexual torture of Palestinian detainees from Gaza in Israeli prisons is an "organised state policy", endorsed by the "highest, political, military, and judicial authorities", a new report has revealed. The report, seen exclusively by Middle East Eye, is based on testimonies from Palestinian former prisoners gathered by the rights watchdog Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor. It reveals how the scope of sexual violence of Palestinian prisoners, including rape using objects and trained military dogs, constitutes an "organised state policy", aided and abetted by Israeli institutions and leadership.
US denies agreeing to unfreeze Iranian assets A White House official has denied reports that the US agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets, according to Al Jazeera. Reuters reported earlier that a senior Iranian source said the US had agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks.
Can a lasting deal emerge from the Islamabad talks? "US President Donald Trump is now assessing whether Iran is prepared to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, restore oil flows, and ultimately reach an agreement that he can present as a face-saving victory," writes Iranian-Canadian political analyst Shahir Shahidsaless for Middle East Eye. "Trump is now the single most important factor in determining whether any durable peace is possible.
JD Vance meets Pakistani PM US Vice President JD Vance is currently meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to the White House. It remains unclear whether US-Iran negotiations today will be held face-to-face or conducted indirectly through Pakistani mediators.
US agrees to unfreeze Iranian assets in foreign banks The US has agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets held in foreign banks, Reuters reported, citing a senior Iranian source. The source said Tehran views the move as a sign of Washington’s “seriousness” in the Islamabad negotiations, adding that the release of funds is linked to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian vice president says US must avoid 'Israel First' agenda Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has said that the US should avoid an "Israel First" agenda in the negotiations in Islamabad. He said the outcome of the talks this weekend depends on whether the US focuses on US or Israeli interests. He added that an "Israel First" agenda would result in a "no deal" and Iran would "inevitably continue our defence even more vigorously than before".
Israel says ceasefire with Hezbollah not on the table The Israeli government has said it will not discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah in talks with Lebanese diplomats in the United States scheduled for Tuesday. This comes after Israeli warplanes carried out air strikes on the towns of Jebchit and Kfarsir in southern Lebanon on Saturday morning. An Israeli air strike targeting a residential building in the town of Mayfadoun in the Nabatieh district killed three people, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.
Hezbollah MP says Lebanon-Israel talks are 'blatant violation' of constitution Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah has said his group opposes direct negotiations between the Lebanese government and Israel, scheduled for next week in Washington. Fadlallah said the move is a "blatant violation of the [national] pact, the constitution and Lebanese laws". He added that "it exacerbates domestic divisions at a time when Lebanon most needs solidarity and internal unity to face Israel's aggression".
Can the Iran-US ceasefire produce a lasting deal? Submitted by Shahir Shahidsaless on Fri, 04/10/2026 - 17:08 With massive stakes on all sides, a key test will be whether Trump can force Israel to stop attacking Lebanon Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, on 8 April 2026 (Kawnat Haju/AFP) Off The two-week ceasefire between Iran and the US , which began on 8 April, marks both a diplomatic opening and a test to determine whether a lasting agreement can end this destructive war. US President Donald Trump, who launched the war alongside Israel , is now assessing whether Iran is prepared to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, restore oil flows, and ultimately reach an agreement that he can present as a face-saving victory.
UK shelves Chagos Islands deal after Trump's criticism The UK has been forced to shelve its legislation to hand the Chagos Islands - which hosts the joint US-UK Diego Garcia military base - back to Mauritius, according to British media reports. This comes after US President Donald Trump repeatedly criticised the plan and said Britain was "making a big mistake" by handing sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius in exchange for the UK and US having continued use of the airbase. The base puts US bomber aircraft within 5300km of Iran but requires UK authorisation for use.
Inside the Sudanese army coalition split over Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood Submitted by Mohammed Amin on Sat, 04/11/2026 - 09:00 Under pressure from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the West, Sudanese general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has condemned Iranian strikes Sudanese army soldiers pictured in Khartoum on 23 August 2025 (Ebrahim Hamid/AFP) Off On Wednesday, as the proposed two-week halt to the war on Iran was being announced, Sudan ’s army-led government issued a statement condemning Iranian strikes on energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia ’s Jubail industrial city. The statement joined others issued in the six weeks since the US and Israel attacked Iran , and appeared again to be a bit of diplomatic repositioning from Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Sudan’s de facto head of state, after elements of his coalition had very publicly backed the Islamic Republic. The war on Iran has highlighted divisions in the Sudanese army’s coalition, which includes self-proclaimed jihadist groups as well as secular activists who participated in the Sudanese revolution that led to the removal of Islamist-backed autocrat Omar al-Bashir.
Araghchi says Iran enters talks with 'complete distrust' Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi has told his German counterpart, Johan Wadephul, that Iran is entering talks with the US with "complete distrust", according to the Mehr news agency. Araghchi reportedly told Wadephul in a phone call that Iran "will fight with full authority to secure the interests and rights of the Iranian people". He pointed to previous "betrayals of diplomacy" by the US.
Morning update If you are just joining us now, here are the key developments from the last several hours: US Vice President JD Vance and senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Islamabad for peace talks with Iran. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf were received at Nur Khan Air Base by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Syed Asim Munir. Iran’s negotiating delegation is set to meet Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad.
Pakistan calls for 'constructive talks' as delegations arrive in Islamabad Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the US delegation has arrived for peace talks with Iran, expressing hope that both sides will engage in “constructive” negotiations. The foreign minister said Islamabad would continue efforts to facilitate a resolution to the conflict. Earlier, US Vice President JD Vance and senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Islamabad, Reuters reported.
Iran delegation to meet Pakistan PM Sharif ahead of talks in Islamabad Iran’s negotiating delegation is set to meet Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, according to reports by the Tasnim news agency. The meeting comes as high-stakes talks between Iran and the United States get underway following a fragile ceasefire. The Iranian team, led by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, had earlier met Pakistan’s army chief and foreign minister upon arrival, Tasnim said.
