Iran war news highlights: Abbas Araghchi to ‘return to Pakistan’ en route to Russia after Oman visit

Iran war news highlights: Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi will visit Pakistan again on Sunday after visiting Oman, state media reported. Araghchi left Pakistan on Saturday to visit Oman as part of his three-nation-tour that also includes Russia. The IRNA news agency, citing the foreign ministry, reported that Araghchi "is scheduled to visit Pakistan again after completing his trip to Oman and before travelling to Russia".

Part of his delegation had returned to Tehran, it added, "to consult and obtain the necessary instructions on issues related to ending the war, and is scheduled to rejoin Araghchi in Islamabad on Sunday night".

After meeting with Pakistan's political brass, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and other members of the delegation left Islamabad on Saturday, Reuters reported citing sources. Following this, US President Donald Trump said he had cancelled US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner's visit to Islamabad.

Araghchi had earlier today met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir, and conveyed Iran's demands and reservations regarding US terms to the Pakistani side. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmael Baqaei earlier wrote on X that “no meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US.” He added that Pakistani officials would pass messages between both sides.

Meanwhile, large areas of Pakistan’s capital remained under strict security lockdown for more than a week as of Saturday, even as uncertainty continued over the proposed second round of talks between the United States and Iran.

For residents, the sense of uncertainty has been the most difficult part. Islamabad is a city of transients, where many people work during the week and return to their family homes at the weekend.

Trump rules out using nuclear weapons on Iran

On Thursday, Trump said he would not use a nuclear weapon in the conflict with Iran. Speaking to reporters at the White House, he said, "Why would I use a nuclear weapon? We've totally, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it."

The US President also said that nuclear weapons should never be used by anyone. When asked how long he was ready to wait for a long-term peace agreement with Iran, Trump said, "Don't rush me."

US imposes sanctions on a China-based oil refinery and 40 shippers over Iranian oil

The Trump administration has imposed economic sanctions on a major oil refinery in China and about 40 shipping firms and tankers linked to the transport of Iranian oil.

The decision, announced on Friday and first reported by The Associated Press, follows through on the administration’s warning to apply secondary sanctions on companies and countries doing business with Iran. It is also part of the US government’s wider push to cut Iran’s main source of income, its oil exports.

Leavitt says Vance is willing to go to Pakistan ‘if we feel it’s a necessary use of his time’

White House press secretary Karolien Leavitt told reporters that the president sent Witkoff and Kushner “to hear the Iranians out.”

“We’ve certainly seen some progress from the Iranian side in the last couple of days,” Leavitt said, without giving further details on what US officials were being told.

She said vice president JD Vance would not travel, but remains “deeply involved.”