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Iran news highlights: Trump says Tehran to make offer as per US demands; Araghchi-led team in Pakistan
Iran news highlights: The war has rattled energy markets since it started at the end of February, with the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz causing a sharp drop in flows from major oil and gas producers in the Persian Gulf.
- 7:30 AM IST, Apr 25Key points so far
- 7:06 AM IST, Apr 25UK PM vows legislation to ban Iran Guards, says report
- 6:46 AM IST, Apr 25Bessent rules out renewal of Iranian and Russian oil waivers
- 6:31 AM IST, Apr 25US imposes sanctions on Chinese refinery for buying Iranian oil
- 6:15 AM IST, Apr 25No direct talks planned with US in Islamabad, says Iran
- 6:01 AM IST, Apr 25Trump decided to send Witkoff and Kushner to hear the Iranians out: US press secy
- 4:51 AM IST, Apr 24‘Iran has a chance to make a deal…’: Hegseth
- 4:49 AM IST, Apr 24Israeli strikes kill six in Lebanon Friday: health ministry
- 4:48 AM IST, Apr 24Iran says no direct talks with US in Islamabad are planned
- 4:15 AM IST, Apr 24Bessent rules out renewal of Iranian and Russian oil waivers
- 3:34 AM IST, Apr 24US won't renew Iranian and Russian oil waivers, Bessent says
- 3:22 AM IST, Apr 24Iran says no meeting planned with US
- 2:43 AM IST, Apr 24Iran plans to make an offer aimed at satisfying US demands: Trump
- 2:25 AM IST, Apr 24UK PM vows legislation to ban Iran Guards: Report
- 2:20 AM IST, Apr 24Kuwait says two drones from Iraq hit northern border posts, no casualties
- 2:03 AM IST, Apr 24Iran Guards seize ship suspected of collaborating with US
- 1:21 AM IST, Apr 24Pak to convey Iran's talks proposal to US: Report
- 1:10 AM IST, Apr 24Araghchi has no scheduled meeting with US: Report
- 12:31 AM IST, Apr 24Talks or no talks? Araghchi in Islamabad, US team to leave on Saturday morning
- 12:24 AM IST, Apr 24Iranian foreign minister arrives in Islamabad
- 12:19 AM IST, Apr 24US sanctions wallets tied to Iran, freezing $344 million in cryptocurrency, says Bessent
- 12:06 AM IST, Apr 24US sanctions China-based refinery over Iran oil
- 11:35 PM IST, Apr 24Vance on standby, says White House
- 11:23 PM IST, Apr 24Araghchi to be in Pakistan, no word on attending talks
- 10:56 PM IST, Apr 24We have seen some progress from Iran, says White House
- 10:54 PM IST, Apr 24White House says Iran asked for in-person meeting
- 10:50 PM IST, Apr 24White House says US envoy Witkoff, Jared Kushner to leave for Pak on Saturday morning
- 10:18 PM IST, Apr 24Russian foreign minister, Pak counterpart discuss West Asia situation
- 10:16 PM IST, Apr 24‘Full freedom of action against any threat,’ says Netanyahu amid ceasefire
- 10:14 PM IST, Apr 24Iran FM Araghchi's regional visit to include consultations on efforts to end conflict
- 10:05 PM IST, Apr 24Trump to send Witkoff, Kushner for talks with Iran FM
- 8:50 PM IST, Apr 24Hezbollah ‘trying to sabotage’ peace efforts with Lebanon, says Israeli PM Netanyahu
- 8:34 PM IST, Apr 24Iran FM says ‘our neighbours are our priority’ as he heads to Pak
- 8:24 PM IST, Apr 24Too early to talk about sanctions relief for Iran, says European Council chief
- 7:47 PM IST, Apr 24Iran FM will discuss his side of proposal during Pak visit, which will be conveyed to US, says report
- 7:35 PM IST, Apr 24Israel strikes southern Lebanon town after evacuation order
- 7:33 PM IST, Apr 24‘High likelihood of breakthrough’ in talks, says report
- 7:22 PM IST, Apr 24US Pentagon chief says two Iranian ‘dark fleet’ ships intercepted
- 7:21 PM IST, Apr 24‘Wake up call for countries around the world,’ says US Pentagon chief on Hormuz closure
- 7:11 PM IST, Apr 24Hormuz blockade ‘going global,' warns US Pentagon chief
- 6:59 PM IST, Apr 24European Council chief Costa says Hormuz reopening ‘vital’ for world
- 6:57 PM IST, Apr 24Iran state-run agency confirms FM Araghchi headed to Pak
- 5:22 PM IST, Apr 24UAE official says rebuilding trust with Iran will take ‘ages and ages’
- 5:20 PM IST, Apr 24Switzerland to gradually reopen Tehran embassy
- 5:07 PM IST, Apr 24Iran foreign minister Araghchi likely to reach Islamabad today, says report
- 3:35 PM IST, Apr 24Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport to resume international flights from Saturday
- 3:30 PM IST, Apr 24Kuwait said two drones from Iraq hit its border posts, no casualties
- 2:58 PM IST, Apr 24Ukraine's Zelensky to visit Saudi Arabia, hold talks with Crown Prince
- 2:41 PM IST, Apr 24Amid ceasefire extension, Israel destroys houses in southern Lebanon town
- 2:36 PM IST, Apr 24China rejects Trump's claims that intercepted Iranian ship was a “gift”
- 2:34 PM IST, Apr 24Iran FM speaks to Pak officials, discusses ‘issues related to ceasefire’
- 2:30 PM IST, Apr 24Second tanker arrives at Iraq's Basra offshore terminal since Hormuz closure
- 2:22 PM IST, Apr 24EU leaders seek to do more to 'de-escalate' in Middle East
- 2:12 PM IST, Apr 24EU preps 'blueprint' for mutual aid clause as Trump doubts NATO's commitment
- 2:01 PM IST, Apr 24China rejects Trump accusation that intercepted Iran ship was 'gift from China'
- 1:44 PM IST, Apr 24Iran war to keep gas market tight for 2 more years, IEA says
- 1:27 PM IST, Apr 24Pope urges US and Iran to return to peace talks
- 1:12 PM IST, Apr 24Mideast's swift return to stability 'in everyone's interest,' says Macron
- 1:05 PM IST, Apr 24Iran cleric demands apology from Trump over Khamenei's killing
- 12:59 PM IST, Apr 24Talks with Iran should include nuclear experts, EU foreign chief says
- 12:40 PM IST, Apr 24IEA sees 'tight' liquefied natural gas markets through 2027
- 12:04 PM IST, Apr 24Pentagon email floats suspending Spain from NATO over Iran rift, says report
- 11:41 AM IST, Apr 24Iran war hits Asia's polyester suppliers to global fast fashion
- 11:23 AM IST, Apr 24Oil rises fifth day as Iran talks deadlock adds to uncertainty
- 11:07 AM IST, Apr 24Israel, Lebanon extend ceasefire as Trump seeks 'best deal' with Iran
- 10:53 AM IST, Apr 24Iran takes dig at Trump after his 'hellhole remark' on India
- 10:48 AM IST, Apr 24Mojtaba Khamenei remain sin hiding, severely injured
- 10:39 AM IST, Apr 24Pentagon email outlines options to punish NATO allies failing to support US, says report
- 10:22 AM IST, Apr 24Israeli military says ‘several rockets’ fired towards north
- 10:13 AM IST, Apr 24West Asia crisis, Strait of Hormuz blockade to be focus of Heads of Mission conference
- 10:05 AM IST, Apr 24Trump says US in no rush but 'clock is ticking' for Iran
- 9:53 AM IST, Apr 24US-sanctioned supertanker with Iranian oil tries Hormuz transit, says report
- 9:35 AM IST, Apr 24US envoy compares Hezbollah to a kid throwing rocks
- 9:22 AM IST, Apr 24Who are Iran's ‘mosquito fleet’ targeted by Trump in ‘shoot and kill’ order
- 9:12 AM IST, Apr 24Trump says leaders of Lebanon and Israel could meet in next three weeks
- 9:06 AM IST, Apr 24US puts $10 million bounty on Iranian-backed Shiite militia
- 9:01 AM IST, Apr 24‘Can’t bring IRGC terrorists,’ says US on Iran's World Cup entry
- 8:56 AM IST, Apr 24Iran dismisses Trump's claims of division in leadership
- 8:50 AM IST, Apr 24Trump says Iran may have reloaded during two-week truce
- 8:42 AM IST, Apr 24What Trump said on use of nuclear weapons on Iran?
- 8:37 AM IST, Apr 24Iran's central bank confirms Hormuz toll revenue deposited in cash
- 8:33 AM IST, Apr 24‘We have complete control,’ Trump says on blockade against Iran
- 8:31 AM IST, Apr 24Trump says it’s a ‘must’ for Iran to end funding for Hezbollah
- 8:23 AM IST, Apr 24US Iran tensions grow over Strait of Hormuz
- 8:13 AM IST, Apr 24'Don't rush me,' says Trump on timeline for ending conflict with Iran
- 8:01 AM IST, Apr 24'Pak talks with US was strategic mistake,' says Iranian lawmaker
- 7:48 AM IST, Apr 24Italy dismisses replacing Iran at the World Cup after suggestion by US official
- 7:37 AM IST, Apr 24Oil prices rise with no progress on Iran
- 7:31 AM IST, Apr 24Iran fast-boat swarms adds to Hormuz threats on shipping
- 7:21 AM IST, Apr 24Lebanon-Israel ceasefire extended by three weeks after Oval Office meeting
- 7:11 AM IST, Apr 24Mojtaba Khamenei in touch with Iranian regime via letters through human chain, says report
- 7:06 AM IST, Apr 24US says Iran allowed to play in World Cup but people with ties to IRGC won't be allowed
- 6:54 AM IST, Apr 24Iran seizes vessel in Hormuz, defying US naval superiority
- 6:53 AM IST, Apr 24Trump orders to 'shoot and kill' Iranian small boats choking Hormuz
- 6:39 AM IST, Apr 24USS George HW Bush aircraft carrier deployed in Mideast region
Iran news highlights: Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi who landed in Pakistan on Friday has no scheduled meeting with US, Iran state TV reported. But Pakistan can convey Iran's concerns for ending conflict, the state TV reporter told broadcaster's website. Iran foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said np meeting is planned between US and Iran in Pakistan....Read More
Follow US-Iran talks live updates here.
US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Middle East Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner will travel to Pakistan on Saturday morning for talks with Iran, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News.
Vice president JD Vance is currently not planning to attend, but will be on standby to travel to Islamabad if negotiations progress, CNN reported.
Iran's state-run IRNA news agency had earlier today reported that foreign minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to Pakistan, and thereafter visit Russia and Oman.
Israel attacks Lebanon after ceasefire announcement
Hours after US President Donald Trump announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Israeli warplanes carried out new strikes on southern Lebanon on Friday, Al Jazeera reported citing local media.
Two raids targeted the town of Touline, while a separate strike hit Khirbet Selm, the Lebanon 24 news outlet said.
US deploys third carrier near Middle East
US military on Thursday confirmed that USS George HW Bush aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East, bringing the number of the massive American warships operating in the region to three.
The Bush was sailing "in the Indian Ocean in the US Central Command area of responsibility, April 23," the military command responsible for the Middle East said in a post on X. The post also had an image of the carrier with its deck packed with warplanes.
A second carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, was operating in the Red Sea on Thursday, while a third carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, is also in the region.
The deployment of the third aircraft carrier to the Middle East comes during a more than two-week ceasefire that paused the devastating US-Israeli air campaign against Iran that was launched in late February.
Israel Lebanon extends ceasefire
US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire between by three weeks after talks at the White House.
Trump said the meeting between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the United States, the second in the past week, went “very well,” but during an Oval Office gathering he acknowledged that “they do have Hezbollah to think about.”
Trump rules out using nuclear weapons on Iran
Trump on Thursday said that he would not use a nuclear weapon in the war against Iran. Talking to the reporters at White House he said, "Why would I use a nuclear weapon? We've totally, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it."
US President also added that nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody. When asked how long he was willing to wait for a long-term peace deal with Iran, Trump said, "Don't rush me."
Trump says ‘could knock out’ Iran's weaponry
Trump said Iran might have loaded up their weaponry "a little bit" during the two-week ceasefire, but added that the U.S. military could knock that out in about one day.
"Their navy is gone. Their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft is gone ...maybe they loaded up a little bit during the two-week hiatus, but we'll knock that out about one day, if they did," Trump added.
Meanwhile, prospective peace talks in Pakistan were hanging in the balance, with no sign of a return to diplomacy to end a standoff in the Strait of Hormuz. Second round of talks could not take off as Iran refused to attend the negotiations in Pakistan over its demands, including insistence on nuclear rights.
