E-Paper
US Iran war highlights: Iran FM Abbas Araghchi heads to Moscow after brief Pakistan pitstop, peace talks stalled
US Iran war highlights: The fragile truce announced a few weeks ago remains on shaky grounds as peace talks in Islamabad collapsed without a deal. The Gulf was pushed to the edge after US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in February and Iran retaliated.
- 11:28 PM IST, Apr 26Oil rises as Hormuz stays shut for third month
- 11:17 PM IST, Apr 26Gold slips as attempts to restart talks falter
- 10:06 PM IST, Apr 26Araghchi to meet Putin, says Tehran
- 9:35 PM IST, Apr 26A quick recap of what's happening
- 9:10 PM IST, Apr 26Lebanon says Israel strikes kill 14 in deadliest day since truce
- 8:10 PM IST, Apr 26Iran-UAE differences blocked joint statement at Delhi meet of Brics officials
- 7:32 PM IST, Apr 26Pakistan says US-Iran mediation moving ahead
- 7:27 PM IST, Apr 26Trump says US, Iranian officials can talk by phone
- 7:26 PM IST, Apr 26Pakistan lifts Islamabad Red Zone lockdown after stalled US-Iran talks
- 6:46 PM IST, Apr 26Araghchi leaves for Moscow
- 5:49 PM IST, Apr 26No indication of resuming talks as Araghchi returns to Pakistan
- 5:23 PM IST, Apr 26Iran FM outlined ‘red lines’ in messages passed to the US
- 4:22 PM IST, Apr 26Israeli army says soldier killed in south Lebanon
- 3:41 PM IST, Apr 26‘Not overly disappointed in China,’ says Trump
- 3:39 PM IST, Apr 26‘Some people we are dealing with Iran very reasonable, others are not,’ says Trump
- 3:37 PM IST, Apr 26‘We’re going to take Iran's nuclear dust,' says Trump
- 3:34 PM IST, Apr 26‘NATO was not there for US on Iran,’ says Trump
- 3:31 PM IST, Apr 26‘We’re going to do it by phone,' says Trump on talks with Iran
- 3:25 PM IST, Apr 26Iran, Saudi ministers discuss latest regional developments over phone call
- 3:04 PM IST, Apr 26Iran FM spoke with key regional players including Saudi, Qatar, Turkey before returning to Pak, says report
- 2:56 PM IST, Apr 26Trump, UK PM Starmer discuss ‘urgent need’ to restore shipping in Strait of Hormuz
- 2:53 PM IST, Apr 26Hezbollah says Israel violating ceasefire after Netanyahu's remarks
- 2:46 PM IST, Apr 26Death toll in Lebanon rises to 2,509
- 2:15 PM IST, Apr 26Iran FM Araghchi returns to Islamabad
- 1:40 PM IST, Apr 26Iran FM Araghchi departs from Muscat, to return to Islamabad
- 12:38 PM IST, Apr 26British govt says preparing for impact on economy amid West Asia, Hormuz crisis
- 12:19 PM IST, Apr 26Marine traffic at Hormuz still at near standstill
- 11:52 AM IST, Apr 26Israel begins striking south Lebanon after warning, says Lebanese media
- 11:22 AM IST, Apr 26Iran FM, Sultan of Oman discussed safe passage through Hormuz, says Iranian foreign ministry
- 11:08 AM IST, Apr 26Israel's Netanyahu says Hezbollah ‘dismantling’ ceasefire with Lebanon
- 10:57 AM IST, Apr 26Iran FM expected back in Pak to convey Tehran's ‘positions’ on framework to end war
- 10:26 AM IST, Apr 26Israel issues evacuation order for seven Lebanese towns
- 10:23 AM IST, Apr 26Hezbollah says it targeted Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon
- 10:08 AM IST, Apr 26Hormuz closure threatens humanitarian catastrophe as fertiliser supplies disrupted, says UN
- 9:38 AM IST, Apr 26‘Won’t deter me from winning war,’ says Trump after Washington shooting incident
- 9:06 AM IST, Apr 26Ship seizures by US and Iran violates international law: Global shipping body
- 8:48 AM IST, Apr 26Pakistan ‘committed’ to US-Iran peace talks: PM
- 8:17 AM IST, Apr 26Inside Iran-Oman talks on US peace deal
- 8:02 AM IST, Apr 26Turkey dials US regarding peace talks with Iran: Report
- 7:23 AM IST, Apr 26Internet blackout in Iran since nearly two months
- 6:48 AM IST, Apr 26Araghchi likely to go back to Pak amid stagnant peace talks
- 5:47 AM IST, Apr 26Hezbollah says ceasefire ‘meaningless’ as Israel continues bombardment
- 5:22 AM IST, Apr 26Pak PM discusses US peace talks with Iran President
- 4:31 AM IST, Apr 26Iran executes man linked to Baloch militant group: Report
- 4:18 AM IST, Apr 26Shooting at White House event won't deter war on Iran: Trump
- 3:46 AM IST, Apr 26Araghchi discusses US peace talks with Egypt and Turkey: Report
- 3:27 AM IST, Apr 26US blocks Iranian vessel in Hormuz, CENTCOM says
- 2:18 AM IST, Apr 26Netanyahu bombs Lebanon again; 4 dead in fresh attacks
- 2:14 AM IST, Apr 26Iran offered a lot but not enough: Trump
US Iran war highlights: Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi departed for Moscow, Russia after a brief stop in Islamabad on Sunday, AFP reported. Araghchi returned to the Pakistani capital on Sunday after his visit to Oman, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported. In Islamabad, Araghchi was scheduled to hold another round of regional consultations with Pakistani officials....Read More
The already fragile push for a lasting US-Iran ceasefire has stumbled again. Donald Trump on Saturday abruptly cancelled a planned visit by his envoys to Pakistan, citing Tehran’s failure to present an acceptable peace proposal. “If they want to talk, all they have to do is call,” said the US President on Truth Social.
Trump later added that Iran “offered a lot but not enough,” while claiming a revised proposal arrived within minutes of his decision. “They gave us a paper that should have been better, and interestingly, immediately, when I cancelled it, within 10 minutes, we got a new paper that was much better,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One. He did not disclose specifics, but said that any deal must guarantee Iran “will not have a nuclear weapon,” adding, “They offered a lot.”
Iran in Pakistan
The development followed Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi’s exit from Islamabad. There he had presented a possible de-escalation framework through Pakistani intermediaries. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian conveyed to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that Tehran would not engage in talks with Washington under pressure.
With no immediate breakthrough, indirect channels remain the only line of communication. Tehran has ruled out direct negotiations for now, though Araghchi is expected to return to Islamabad after consultations in Tehran and a stop in Oman.
What the US said on talks
The White House hinted at limited progress in recent exchanges, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying that US officials had been sent “to hear the Iranians out.” Vice president JD Vance, while not travelling, could be deployed if necessary.
Washington has kept up pressure, imposing fresh sanctions on a China-based refinery and multiple shipping firms tied to Iranian oil exports.
Israel bombs Lebanon again during ceasefire
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday ordered the military to “vigorously attack Hezbollah targets in Lebanon,” according to his office. This came despite a ceasefire that Trump recently said had been extended by three weeks.
Four people were killed in Israeli strikes in the south, reported Lebanon’s state news agency. Fresh waves of airstrikes, artillery fire and drone activity were reported across southern and eastern Lebanon.
The Israeli military said Hezbollah had launched rockets into Israel.
US Iran LIVE updates: Oil rises as Hormuz stays shut for third month
US Iran LIVE updates: Oil gained after efforts to resume peace talks over the Iran war stalled, with the vital Strait of Hormuz remaining effectively closed, extending disruptions in the Middle East that have roiled global markets.
Brent rose as much as 2.5% to $107.97 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate traded near $96. US President Donald Trump canceled a planned trip over the weekend by his top envoys to Pakistan, which is mediating talks, while Iran said it won’t negotiate so long as it’s being threatened.
A ceasefire has mostly held in place since early April, but a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by both the US and Iran has made the key energy chokepoint virtually impassable. The supply shock has choked off supplies of crude, fuel, natural gas and even fertilizers, raising concerns about an inflation crisis.
via Bloomberg
US Iran LIVE updates: Gold slips as attempts to restart talks falter
US Iran LIVE updates: Gold edged lower as efforts to resume peace talks between the US and Iran stalled, two months into a war that’s upended global markets and raised inflation risks.
Bullion was near $4,685 an ounce in early trading, having given up 2.5% in the previous week. US President Donald Trump canceled a planned trip by his top envoys to resume peace talks with Iran in Islamabad, while Tehran said it won’t negotiate as long as it’s being threatened.
Oil gained on Monday, as the Strait of Hormuz remained virtually impassable due to blockades set up by both countries. The energy-supply shock caused by the war has added to inflation risks, raising the likelihood that central banks will keep interest rates steady for longer or even hike them, which is a headwind for non-yielding bullion. Gold has lost about 11% since the conflict began at the end of February.
via Bloomberg
US Iran LIVE updates: Araghchi to meet Putin, says Tehran
US Iran LIVE updates: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg as part of a trip that begins on Monday for talks over the Islamic republic's war with the United States and Israel, Tehran's ambassador to Moscow said.
Russia and Tehran, who are both subject to fierce Western sanctions, have developed an increasingly close relationship in recent years.
Tehran's ambassador Kazem Jalali wrote on X that Araghchi would meet Putin in Russia's second biggest city.
"Continuing the diplomatic jihad to advance the country's interests and amidst external threats, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran will meet with the President of Russia during his visit to St. Petersburg," he wrote.
US Iran LIVE updates: A quick recap of what's happening
US Iran LIVE updates: If you just joined us, here is a quick recap of what is happening in the Middle East conflict:
-Iran foreign minister Abbas Araghchi returned to Pakistan briefly after Oman visit on Sunday. He then headed to Moscow as part of his three-nation tour to discuss regional development.
-Iran delegation that landed in Pakistan on Friday said it had no plans to meet US envoys even as White House confirmed talks. President Trump on Saturday called off his envoys trip following Araghchi's departure to Oman.
-In an interview Sunday on Fox News Channel, Trump said he made that decision rather than send a delegation on a 17-hour flight. “We have all the cards. If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us,” Trump said, not indicating when the call would take place.
US Iran LIVE updates: Lebanon says Israel strikes kill 14 in deadliest day since truce
US Iran LIVE updates: Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli strikes on the country's south on Sunday killed 14 people, the deadliest day since a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war came into force over a week ago.
It came as Israel and the Iran-backed group traded fresh accusations of breaching the fragile truce, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the military was "vigorously" targeting Hezbollah and the group vowing to keep responding to "violations".
Israel's military has carried out repeated strikes in Lebanon since the April 17 ceasefire, which on Thursday was extended for three weeks, after six weeks of war in which Israel also invaded the country's south.
via AFP
US Iran LIVE updates: Iran-UAE differences blocked joint statement at Delhi meet of Brics officials
US Iran LIVE updates: A meeting of senior officials of the Brics grouping hosted by India last week couldn’t come out with a consensus document because of sharp differences between Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the West Asia conflict, people familiar with the matter said on Sunday. Read here
US Iran LIVE updates: Pakistan says US-Iran mediation moving ahead
US Iran LIVE updates: Pakistan's leaders sought Sunday to revive peace talks between the United States and Iran after President Donald Trump canceled plans for his top envoys to travel to Islamabad this weekend for negotiations.
Pakistan-led mediators are working to bridge significant gaps between the US and Iran, according to a regional official involved in the mediation efforts who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter. Iran still insists on ending the US blockade on its ports before launching a new round of talks with the Trump administration, the official said.
via AP
US Iran LIVE updates: Trump says US, Iranian officials can talk by phone
US Iran LIVE updates: In an interview Sunday on Fox News Channel, Trump said he made that decision rather than send a delegation on a 17-hour flight.
“We have all the cards. If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us,” Trump said, not indicating when the call would take place.
Talks appeared to fall apart on Saturday, with Tehran’s top diplomat leaving Pakistan, and Trump soon afterward saying he had told envoys not to travel to Islamabad.
Asked about NATO, Trump said he was “very, very disappointed” in the military alliance, which he has suggested the U.S. may consider leaving after member countries ignored his call to help as Iran effectively shut the the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve been serving them for many years, spending trillions of dollars, and when we wanted to help they were not there, so we have to remember that,” Trump said.
US Iran LIVE updates: Pakistan lifts Islamabad Red Zone lockdown after stalled US-Iran talks
US Iran LIVE updates: Pakistan’s foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, said late Sunday that the government has lifted all restrictions around the high-security zone in the capital of Islamabad.
Iranian and U.S. delegations held rare face-to-face talks there earlier this month. The area had remained under lockdown for more than a week as Pakistan hoped to host a second round of talks aimed at securing a ceasefire.
Dar’s remarks signaled that there was no immediate prospect of further direct talks between the United States and Iran. Still, Pakistan’s government says it continues to mediate by conveying messages between the two sides to promote lasting stability in the region.
In a post on X, Dar thanked residents of Islamabad and the nearby city of Rawalpindi “for their patience and cooperation.”
US Iran LIVE updates: Araghchi leaves for Moscow
US Iran LIVE updates: Iran's foreign minister departed Islamabad for Moscow on Sunday, his ministry said, ping-ponging from capital to capital as mediators hoped to keep peace talks between Tehran and the United States alive.
Abbas Araghchi sandwiched a visit to Oman's Muscat in between trips to the Pakistani capital, and was set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday, according to the Iranian ambassador, but there remained no indication that direct US-Iranian talks would resume.
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump scotched a planned trip to Islamabad by his negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
But in a sign that indirect efforts were ongoing, the Fars news agency reported that Iran had transmitted "written messages" to the Americans via mediator Pakistan that were "about some of the red lines of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz".
US Iran LIVE updates: No indication of resuming talks as Araghchi returns to Pakistan
US Iran LIVE updates: Iran's foreign minister returned to Islamabad on Sunday, ping-ponging from capital to capital as mediators hoped to keep peace talks between Tehran and the United States alive.
Abbas Araghchi visited Oman's Muscat on Saturday after leaving Pakistan, and is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday, but there remained no indication that direct US-Iranian talks would resume.
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump scotched a planned trip to Islamabad by his negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
But in a sign that indirect efforts were ongoing, the ISNA news agency reported that Iran had transmitted "written messages" to the Americans via Pakistan that were "about some of the red lines of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz".
Those messages were not, however, part of any negotiations, ISNA said.
via AFP
US Iran LIVE updates: Iran FM outlined ‘red lines’ in messages passed to the US
US Iran LIVE updates: Iran foreign minister Abbas Araghchi outlines the country's “red lines” in messages relayed to the United States, Iranian state media reported, according to Al Jazeera.
“These messages concern some of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s red lines including nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz,” Fars News Agency reported. “Informed sources emphasize Mr Araghchi is acting entirely within the framework of the specified red lines and the diplomatic duties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” it stated.
US Iran LIVE updates: Israeli army says soldier killed in south Lebanon
US Iran LIVE updates: The Israeli military on Sunday said one of its soldiers had been killed in south Lebanon, AFP reported. The military ordered the evacuation of seven villages in southern Lebanon on Sunday.
Both Israel and Hezbollah accused each other of violating the ceasefire.
US Iran LIVE updates: ‘Not overly disappointed in China,’ says Trump
US Iran LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump said he was “overly disappointed” with China on Iran, saying it could have helped more.
“China could have been much worse than they have been,” the US President told Fox News.
US Iran LIVE updates: ‘Some people we are dealing with Iran very reasonable, others are not,’ says Trump
US Iran LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump spoke about US negotiations with Iran, claiming that some people America is “dealing with are very reasonable, others are not.”
Trump further told Fox News he hoped Iran “will be smart”.
US Iran LIVE updates: ‘We’re going to take Iran's nuclear dust,' says Trump
US Iran LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump said that America was “going to take Iran's nuclear dust”, adding that it was “part of the negotiation” at present.
Trump told Fox News that he thinks that the war with Iran “will come to an end very soon and we will be victorious.”
US Iran LIVE updates: ‘NATO was not there for US on Iran,’ says Trump
US Iran LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump told Fox News that the NATO countries had not backed America during the conflict with Iran. “NATO was not there for the US on Iran,” he said.
Trump further stated that UK had said that they would send ships when the war is over, and said “that's not good.”
US Iran LIVE updates: ‘We’re going to do it by phone,' says Trump on talks with Iran
US Iran LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump on Sunday reiterated that Iran “can call” the American officials for talks. “If Iran wants to talk, they can call us,” the US President told Fox News.
He further signalled that any talks with Iran will be held over the phone. “We're going to do it by phone,” he said.
US Iran LIVE updates: Iran, Saudi ministers discuss latest regional developments over phone call
US Iran LIVE updates: Iran foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, exchanged views on the latest regional developments over a phone call, Al Jazeera reported citing the former's Telegram channel.
“In this conversation, the foreign minister of our country explained various aspects of the current situation in the region, especially developments related to the ceasefire, and informed his Saudi counterpart about the latest efforts and diplomatic moves of the Islamic Republic of Iran to end the war and reduce tension,” the statement said.
US Iran LIVE updates: Iran FM spoke with key regional players including Saudi, Qatar, Turkey before returning to Pak, says report
US Iran LIVE updates: Iran foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, before returning to Islamabad, spoke to key players in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Araghchi spoke by phone with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. The Iran foreign minister said he discussed “developments related to the ceasefire and the challenges facing its consolidation” with Thani.
According to Al Jazeera, Araghchi during his visit to Oman met with officials, and held discussions around building a framework to ultimately end the war.
US Iran LIVE updates: Trump, UK PM Starmer discuss ‘urgent need’ to restore shipping in Strait of Hormuz
US Iran LIVE updates: United States President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday discussed the urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz, a Downing Street spokesperson said.
“The leaders discussed the urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz, given the severe consequences for the global economy and cost of living for people in the UK and globally,” the spokesperson said, according to Reuters news agency.
US Iran LIVE updates: Hezbollah says Israel violating ceasefire after Netanyahu's remarks
US Iran LIVE updates: Hezbollah on Sunday accused Israel of “violations of the ceasefire since the first day of the temporary truce declaration” in a statement on Telegram.
This came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of “undermining” the ceasefire.
US Iran LIVE updates: Death toll in Lebanon rises to 2,509
US Iran LIVE updates: At least 2,509 persons were killed, and 7,755 others injured amid Israeli strikes in Lebanon, the latter's health ministry said on Sunday.
US Iran LIVE updates: Iran FM Araghchi returns to Islamabad
US Iran LIVE updates: Iran foreign minister Abbas Araghchi returned to Islamabad on Sunday, a day after he left the Pakistani Capital post talks with officials.
Araghchi held talks with the Sultan of Oman earlier today.
Upon his arrival to Nur Khan airbase on the outskirts of Islamabad, Araghchi was received by Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s interior minister, and Reza Amiri Moghadam, Iran’s ambassador to Islamabad, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported. According to IRNA, Araghchi is expected to hold another round of regional consultations with Pakistani officials.
US Iran LIVE updates: Iran FM Araghchi departs from Muscat, to return to Islamabad
US Iran LIVE updates: Iran foreign minister Abbas Araghchi had departed from Oman's Capital Muscat, and will return to Islamabad, Iran's foreign ministry said.
According to the ministry, Araghchi will travel to Russia after his Pakistan visit, and is scheduled to arrive at Nur Khan Airbase on the outskirts of Islamabad shortly.
Al Jazeera reported that Araghchi's private plane has taken off from Tehran, and part of his delegation which had returned to Iran after the Pakistan visit on Saturday is also expected to rejoin him in Islamabad.
