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US Iran news highlights: Next round of US-Iran talks set to take place in Pakistan on Monday, Iranian sources say
US Iran news highlights: A new round of talks between Iranian and American negotiators is expected to be held in Islamabad on Monday, according to Iranian officials. The officials added that both sides are expected to arrive in the city on Sunday.
- 4:39 AM IST, Apr 17Iran says Hormuz open to shipping; US keeps blockade in force pending deal
- 4:24 AM IST, Apr 17Iran will close Hormuz Strait if US blockade not lifted, says speaker
- 3:48 AM IST, Apr 17Trump says will bring Iran uranium 'back home to the USA'
- 3:31 AM IST, Apr 17Second round of US-Iran talks set for Pakistan on Monday
- 2:45 AM IST, Apr 17Trump says few key differences remain with Iran, talks to continue over weekend
- 2:36 AM IST, Apr 17Trump says Iran talks will continue over weekend
- 12:51 AM IST, Apr 17Iran foreign ministry says enriched uranium 'not going to be transferred'
- 12:33 AM IST, Apr 17Saudi FM, Marco Rubio discuss Hormuz security, Lebanon ceasefire in call
- 11:53 PM IST, Apr 17Gunfire in Beirut, anger in Israel as Lebanon ceasefire takes effect
- 11:25 PM IST, Apr 17Iran media cast doubt on Strait of Hormuz reopening, seek leadership clarity
- 11:18 PM IST, Apr 17Iran opens Strait of Hormuz for commercial vessels during ceasefire period
- 11:15 PM IST, Apr 17Trump says Iran to suspend nuclear programme, no US funds as deal nears
- 11:13 PM IST, Apr 17Lebanon enters ‘new phase’ of permanent agreements after ceasefire
- 11:06 PM IST, Apr 17Iran ready to assure peaceful nuclear intent if demands are met, says senior official
- 10:56 PM IST, Apr 17If US blockade continues, Iran will reciprocate, Tehran spokesperson says
- 10:39 PM IST, Apr 17What was in Trump's series of posts after Iran's Hormuz announcement
- 10:31 PM IST, Apr 17‘Enough is enough’: Trump says Israel barred from bombing Lebanon
- 10:12 PM IST, Apr 17'No sticking points' for Iran deal, claims Trump
- 10:02 PM IST, Apr 17Trump says Iran to suspend nuclear program, won’t get funds
- 9:51 PM IST, Apr 17US to recover uranium from Iran at a 'leisurely pace', Trump tells Reuters
- 9:31 PM IST, Apr 17Trump says Iran deal ‘mostly complete’
- 9:23 PM IST, Apr 17‘Might go to Islamabad once deal is reached,’ says Trump
- 9:19 PM IST, Apr 17Trump says will recover uranium from Iran and bring it back to US
- 9:13 PM IST, Apr 17Lebanese state media says Israeli strike in south kills one despite truce
- 8:57 PM IST, Apr 17Mine threat in parts of Hormuz not fully understood, US navy advisory says
- 8:41 PM IST, Apr 17Trump says Iran agreed to never close Hormuz
- 8:08 PM IST, Apr 17Trump calls it ‘a brilliant day for world’ after Iran announces opening of Hormuz
- 8:04 PM IST, Apr 17US Iran news LIVE: Trump rejects NATO offer to help with Hormuz, says 'stay away'
- 7:59 PM IST, Apr 17Trump says Iran removing sea mines with US help
- 7:51 PM IST, Apr 17Macron and Starmer welcome Strait of Hormuz opening but say it must be permanent
- 7:41 PM IST, Apr 17Netanyahu says Israel has 'not yet finished the job' against Hezbollah
- 7:39 PM IST, Apr 17Trump says Israel banned from bombing Lebanon
- 7:36 PM IST, Apr 17EU urges Iran to drop transit fee plans in Hormuz Strait
- 7:23 PM IST, Apr 17Iran military says vessels can pass along designated route, with permission
- 7:20 PM IST, Apr 17Military vessels not allowed to pass Strait of Hormuz, says Iran media
- 7:12 PM IST, Apr 17Trump says ‘most points’ negotiated in Iran deal
- 7:05 PM IST, Apr 17Trump says US blockade of Iran 'will remain in full force' until Iran reaches deal
- 7:03 PM IST, Apr 17Trump says Hormuz open but naval blockade to remain
- 6:55 PM IST, Apr 17Araghchi says passage of ships need to be along the route Iran maritime org has announced
- 6:47 PM IST, Apr 17Trump says Iran declared Strait of Hormuz ‘fully open’
- 6:38 PM IST, Apr 17What Iran's Araghchi said on opening Strait of Hormuz?
- 6:29 PM IST, Apr 17Iran says Strait of Hormuz open till ceasefire
- 6:06 PM IST, Apr 17Kremlin welcomes U.S.-backed Israel-Lebanon ceasefire
- 5:36 PM IST, Apr 17Pakistan escorted Iranian negotiators home after Iran warned of possible attack, says report
- 5:07 PM IST, Apr 17First loaded Iranian oil tankers exit Gulf since US blockade, tracking firm says
- 4:52 PM IST, Apr 17Israel says military operation against Hezbollah 'still not complete'
- 4:46 PM IST, Apr 17Lebanon president calls talks with Israel ‘sensitive and pivotal’
- 4:22 PM IST, Apr 17Trump says Iran’s concessions paved way for deal to end war
- 4:09 PM IST, Apr 17Israel says Hezbollah to be disarmed in south Lebanon after ceasefire ends
- 3:54 PM IST, Apr 17Sri Lanka sent home 238 Iranian sailors, including survivors of a US torpedo attack
- 3:43 PM IST, Apr 17Hormuz fight stirs concerns in Malacca Strait near Singapore
- 3:30 PM IST, Apr 17Trump says Iran deal getting closer as Lebanon truce starts
- 3:22 PM IST, Apr 17Hezbollah says 'finger on the trigger' in case Israel violates truce
- 3:06 PM IST, Apr 17Lebanese civilians head home as truce with Israel takes effect
- 2:59 PM IST, Apr 17US says 14 ships turned around rather than testing the blockade
- 2:46 PM IST, Apr 17US-Iran Deal will take months, gulf and european officials say
- 2:29 PM IST, Apr 17Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi to discuss ways to end Iran war: Report
- 1:53 PM IST, Apr 17Beirut official says Israeli strikes hit neighborhood 62 times
- 1:39 PM IST, Apr 17Displaced head home after Israel-Lebanon ceasefire
- 1:33 PM IST, Apr 1740+ days of war, thousands of deaths
- 1:31 PM IST, Apr 17Asim Munir pushes for extension to ceasefire
- 1:00 PM IST, Apr 17Shehbaz Sharif welcomes Israel-Lebanon ceasefire
- 12:55 PM IST, Apr 17South Korea tanker passes through Red Sea route
- 12:54 PM IST, Apr 17Macron praises ceasefire in Lebanon
- 12:53 PM IST, Apr 17Oil falls on prospects for talks to end Iran war
- 12:30 PM IST, Apr 17Iran mocks Trump's peace deal claims
- 12:27 PM IST, Apr 17Lebanon says Israel targeted ambulance team
- 11:52 AM IST, Apr 17Iran hails "resistance" of Lebanese people as Israel-Lebanon ceasefire begins
- 11:34 AM IST, Apr 17IEA says loss of energy output in Middle East will take about two years to recover
- 11:14 AM IST, Apr 17Gold prices fall amid ceasefire talks
- 11:11 AM IST, Apr 17Turkey hosts latest diplomatic push on Middle East war
- 11:10 AM IST, Apr 17Sri Lanka among worst hit in Asia-Pacific: UN
- 11:06 AM IST, Apr 17US releases footage of navy redirecting ship amid Hormuz blockade | WATCH
- 10:59 AM IST, Apr 17Lebanon’s displaced people return to homes despite govt advisory
- 10:47 AM IST, Apr 17Trump calls Iran ‘smart’, 'tough'
- 10:35 AM IST, Apr 17Nigerian airlines threaten to ground flights over fuel spike
- 9:27 AM IST, Apr 1710-day ceasefire agreed on by Israel and Lebanon goes into effect
- 9:14 AM IST, Apr 17Trump says deal with Iran ‘looking very good’ amid ceasefire
- 9:04 AM IST, Apr 17Trump optimistic about deal with Iran
- 8:46 AM IST, Apr 17US enforces Iran ports' blockade with 12 ships, 100 aircraft
- 8:38 AM IST, Apr 17Trump hints at possible Pakistan visit
- 8:11 AM IST, Apr 17I hope Hezbollah acts nicely, says Trump
- 7:07 AM IST, Apr 17Victory very shortly, says Trump
- 7:01 AM IST, Apr 17Trump says oil prices will go down if war with Iran ends
- 6:53 AM IST, Apr 17Lebanon accuses Iran of ceasefire violation
- 6:50 AM IST, Apr 17Celebration in Beirut as Israel Lebanon ceasefire begins
- 6:47 AM IST, Apr 17Trump's big update on talks with Iran
- 6:45 AM IST, Apr 17Trump says Iran war ending ‘pretty soon’
US Iran news highlights: A new round of talks between Iranian and American negotiators is expected to be held in Islamabad on Monday, according to Iranian officials. The officials added that both sides are expected to arrive in the city on Sunday, CNN reported. US President Donald Trump and Iran’s foreign minister said on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to commercial shipping. Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said the key waterway “is declared completely open” following the Lebanon ceasefire, while Trump said it is “ready for full passage.”...Read More
However, Trump added that the US naval blockade on Iranian ships and ports “will remain in full force” until Iran reaches an agreement with Washington to end the war.
Trump in a post on Truth Social said, US Navy's blockade would continue until “UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE.”
Doubts cast on Hormuz reopening
Two semi-official Iranian news agencies on Friday questioned an announcement by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi that the Strait of Hormuz had been opened to global shipping, AP reported.
Fars News, seen as close to the Revolutionary Guard, challenged the reported move in a series of posts on X, criticising what it called a “strange silence from the Supreme National Security Council and the negotiating team.”
Mehr News also said the reported decision to reopen the strategic waterway required “clarification” and would need approval from the country’s Supreme Leader.
Iran says Strait of Hormuz open
Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday said that the Strait of Hormuz is declared "completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire."
In a post on X, Araghchi wrote, “In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire.”
Trump says Iran war to end ‘pretty soon’
With anticipation surrounding the possible next round of talks between the Washington and Tehran, Trump has said that the war in Iran is going "swimmingly" and that it "should be ending pretty soon." He said this while speaking at an event in Las Vegas, Navada.
Trump also said the next meeting between the US and Iran may take place over the weekend, adding to optimism that the Iran war could be nearing an end. Trump said Iran had offered not to possess nuclear weapons for more than 20 years. Tehran's nuclear ambitions were a sticking point at talks in Islamabad last weekend.
"We're going to see what happens. But I think we're very close to making a deal with Iran," he told reporters outside the White House. Reports had said that while the US proposed a 20 year pause to Iran's nuclear programme at Islamabad talks, while Iran had counterproposed a pause of five years.
US-Iran war began on February 28 with a US -Israeli attack and thousands have been killed since then. Oil prices have also surged, creating a major political headache for the US president.
Trump hints at possible Pakistan visit
As Trump's latest remarks are setting off hopes for an end to the Middle East war, Trump also hinted at a possibility that he might visit Pakistan to finalise the peace deal with Iran. The US President heaped praise on Pakistan when a reporter asked him if he would visit the country to seal the deal with Iran. “I would. I would go to Pakistan, yeah. Pakistan has been great. They've been so good. Islamabad, I'll be—I might go. Yeah. If the deal is signed in Islamabad, I might go,” he said.
Israel-Lebanon ceasefire starts
A 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect on Thursday after last week's strikes on Lebanon caused massive loss of lives and widespread destruction. The attacks also threatened the fragile truce between Iran and the US as Iran termed the strikes as ceasefire violation.
If the Lebanon ceasefire clears the way for a broader peace deal with Iran, it would be a significant win for the Trump administration, which has struggled so far to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and block Iran's path to a nuclear weapon.
Celebratory gunfire rang out across parts of Beirut as the clock struck midnight on Thursday, the time the ceasefire was set to go into effect. For around half an hour, the sound of explosions from rockets fired in celebration could also be heard, witnesses said.
