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Shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi touched down in Pakistan, his government made it clear that there would be no direct negotiations with American government representatives during this visit. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmael Baqaei said that no meeting is planned. Baqaei thanked the Pakistani government for its “ongoing mediation & good offices for ending American imposed war of aggression.”
The White House said earlier Friday that its envoys would meet Araghchi.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday that the US does not plan to renew a waiver allowing the purchase of Russian oil and petroleum products that are currently at sea. And, he said, a renewal of the one-time waiver for Iranian oil at sea is totally off the table. Bessent's statements come as the world is on edge over the US-Israeli war in Iran, and global energy markets have been ensnarled by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump cancelled US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Senior Advisor Jared Kushner's trip to Islamabad for talks regarding ending the US-Israel-Iran war according to Fox News. Trump told Witkoff that the "US had all the cards" and "Iran can call US", according to publication.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Islamabad after talks with Pakistan's high level officials, according to IRNA reports cited by Bloomberg
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dhar stated that the meeting between Shehbaz Sharif and Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi meeting lasted about two hours.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was "pleased to meet Araghchi", and that they discussed strenghtening bilateral relations, and exchanged views on current regional situation.
(Source: Bloomberg)
Iran and US will hold a second round of talks on April 27, according to NDTV. Iran's Foreign Minister is likely to return to Pakistan, the report said.
Lebanon's Health Ministry stated that four have been killed in raids by Israel on the town named Yahmor al-Shaqif. This is despite the three-week ceasefire between the two countries.
(Source: Al Jazeera)
The U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth crticised Europe for not sending ships to open the Hormuz strait, according to Associated Press.
"They need the Strait of Hormuz much more than we do, and might wanna start doing less talking and having less fancy conferences in Europe and get in a boat," Hegseth said.
Goldman Sachs research said Gulf crude oil production could largely recover within a few months of the Strait of Hormuz reopening. However, a full return to pre-war levels may take longer, and production will face heightened risks if the waterway’s closure and West Asia tensions persist.
The U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated that Iran has a "historic chance" to make a deal with the country and end the war in the Middle East, according to an Associated Press report.
Iran hanged a man Saturday over alleged ties to Israel's Mossad intelligence agency and his participation in anti-government protests in January. Erfan Kiani was the latest in a series of executions in Iran following the war and nationwide protests.
The Mizan news agency of Iran's judiciary announced Kiani was convicted of charges including attacks on security forces in the city of Asfahn in January.
The agency claimed he was on a “mission for Mossad” without offering evidence.
The United States "is looking for a face-saving way to escape the war quagmire it has become trapped in", a spokesman for Iran's defence ministry said.
The comment, reported by Iran's ISNA media outlet, came as US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner headed to Pakistan, where Iran's foreign minister was.
The White House said the two would have "talks" with Iranian representatives. But Iranian state media said that direct negotiations were not in the cards.
(Source: AFP)
Turkey has indicated it may participate in demining operations in the Strait of Hormuz following a potential agreement between Iran and the United States, according to remarks by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, as reported by Reuters.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir here, as Islamabad continued its efforts to facilitate engagement between the US and Iran.
The meeting, according to a short video posted by the Iranian embassy on social media, was also attended by Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, and Iran's ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam.
Araghchi calls on Munir, the embassy said in the video caption.
It did not provide further details about the discussions.
Iran resumed commercial flights from Tehran's international airport on Saturday for the first time since the conflict with the US and Israel began about two months ago. Iran's state-run television reported that flights took off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran bound for Istanbul, Oman's capital of Muscat and the Saudi city of Medina.
Flightradar24, a flight tracking platform, showed that at least three Istanbul-bound flights departed Saturday morning.
Iran partly reopened its airspace earlier this month amid a ceasefire with the US, which halted fighting between the two countries.
Egyptian and Pakistani foreign ministers discussed efforts to launch a new round of talks between the United States and Iran. Badr Abdelatty of Egypt spoke by phone with his Pakistani counterpart Mohammad Ishaq Dar. The Egyptian foreign ministry said the diplomats affirmed that negotiations are the best way to end the war.
Eight weeks after the US-Iran-Israel conflict began, and more than two weeks after a ceasefire was declared, the crisis has entered a more damaging phase. Fighting may have eased on land, but the economic battle at sea is intensifying. What was once a military confrontation is now a contest over control of the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world's most important energy chokepoints.
Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed six people, the Lebanese health ministry said, despite an ongoing ceasefire in the more than six-week war between Israel and Hezbollah.
"The Israeli enemy's airstrikes on southern Lebanon today, April 24, resulted in the martyrdom of six citizens and the injury of two others," the ministry said in a statement.
(Source: AFP)
The Trump administration on Friday announced fresh sanctions against a major independent Chinese "teapot" refinery for allegedly purchasing billions of dollars' worth of Iranian oil.
Dr Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan, Fellow and ex Trade head, NITI Aayog and Faculty Member, Boston College USA told NDTV Profit:
Iran’s Defence Ministry spokesperson General Reza Talaei-Nik said a “significant portion” of the country’s missile capabilities “remains unused,” according to Tasnim news agency. He added that Iranian armed forces “maintained control over the skies of the occupied territories until the moment the ceasefire began.”
US President Donald Trump granted a 90-day extension to a shipping waiver to ease movement of oil, fuel and fertiliser around the US, the White House said. The move aims to curb energy costs linked to the war with Iran. Though its impact on prices is questionable, it reflects a White House push to dampen fuel spikes before November’s midterms, where affordability is a key voter issue, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad late on Friday to hold talks with Pakistan's top leadership on regional developments and the US-Iran ceasefire, raising expectations of a second round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East war.
US envoys headed to the Pakistani capital Saturday in a bid to kickstart a new round of peace negotiations with Iran amid a fragile ceasefire, though the prospect of direct talks remained uncertain.
The White House said emissaries Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would engage in an "in-person conversation" with Iranian representatives, but Iranian state media said that direct negotiations were not in the cards.
(Source: AFP)
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday that the US does not plan to renew a waiver allowing the purchase of Russian oil and petroleum products that are currently at sea. And, he said, a renewal of the one-time waiver for Iranian oil at sea is totally off the table.
“Not the Iranians,” Bessent told The Associated Press. "We have the blockade, and there's no oil coming out.”
"And we think in the next two, three days, they're going to have to start shuttering production, which will be very bad for their wells.”
Shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi landed in Pakistan, Tehran ruled out direct talks with US officials during the visit. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmael Baqaei said no meeting is planned and thanked Pakistan for its “ongoing mediation & good offices for ending American imposed war of aggression.”
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