The United States and Iran began face-to-face negotiations Saturday in Pakistan, days after a fragile, two-week ceasefire was announced.
that has killed thousands of people and shaken global markets .
The White House confirmed the direct nature of the talks. Iran’s state-run news agency said three-party talks had begun after Iranian preconditions, including a reduction in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, were met, and after U.S. and Iranian officials met separately with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The U.S. delegation led by and the Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker were discussing how to advance the ceasefire already threatened by deep disagreements and Israel’s continued attacks against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Here is the latest:
In Jerusalem, thousands of Orthodox Christians gather in Church of Holy Sepulchre after restrictions lifted
Thousands of worshippers took part in the annual “Holy Fire†ceremony on Saturday in Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, an Orthodox Christian ritual that dates back more than 1,200 years.
The ceremony, held the day before Orthodox Easter, symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus, where the Greek Orthodox Patriarch brings out candles reportedly lit by a miraculous, non-burning flame from the tomb, which is then passed to thousands of worshipers.
Holy sites across Jerusalem’s Old City, including Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Western Wall, remained closed for 40 days under Israeli security restrictions following the war on Iran, but reopened on Thursday as a fragile, two-week ceasefire between Iran, Israel, and the U.S. appeared to hold.
“Just two days ago there was absolutely no one in the Old City, it felt like an orphaned town,†said Fr. Antonious Al-Orshalemy. “But now we see wedding-like celebrations on every level. Everyone is happy, and everyone is joyful.â€
Thousands protest Lebanese planned negotiations with Israel
Amid the protests, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Saturday he had postponed a planned trip to Washington “in light of the current internal circumstances.â€
Ahead of his announcement, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader on international affairs warned against sidelining Hezbollah, saying in a social media post: “Mr. Nawaf Salam must know that ignoring the unparalleled role of the Resistance and the heroic Hezbollah will expose Lebanon to irreparable security risks.â€
President Joseph Aoun said Friday a first meeting will be held Tuesday at the U.S. State Department to discuss a ceasefire and launch U.S.-mediated Lebanon-Israel negotiations, following a call between the two countries’ ambassadors in Washington with the participation of the U.S. ambassador to Beirut.
Protesters burned portraits of Salam in downtown Beirut near the Grand Serail, calling him a “Zionist†as they carried Hezbollah flags.
It was not immediately clear whether Salam was joining the delegation on Tuesday or what his decision meant for the talks.
Qatari official says Iranian attacks have decreased but ’not stopped’
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that attacks against any Gulf state constitute an attack on all of them, denying that Qatar pays Iran to stop attacks against its territory.
“Qatar does not pay in exchange for stopping attacks on it,†said Majed al-Ansari in a televised interview with Al Jazeera, adding that Qatar intercepts the Iranian attacks.
Al-Ansari added Iran had also attacked civilian and industrial targets, despite Iran’s claim that it was only targeting military sites.
Pakistani official says talks ‘progressing well’
“I cannot say whether they are sitting in the same room or in separate rooms, but talks have started and are progressing well,†the official with knowledge of the peace efforts said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
-By Munir Ahmed
Face-to-face negotiations have begun between the United States and Iran in Pakistan
The White House said that delegations from the United States, Iran and Pakistan are holding face-to-face meetings on Saturday.
The start of the meeting represents a significant test as to whether the ceasefire, which has already shown strains, is durable enough to resolve the Iran war.
President Donald Trump ahead of the meeting has engaged in provocative social media posts, suggesting that the U.S. energy sector will benefit from Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz to oil and natural gas tankers.
Energy prices have risen sharply since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February, with the stated goals of stopping its development of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons.
Vice President JD Vance is leading the U.S. delegation, along with Steve Witkoff, the special envoy, and Jared Kushner, who is President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
US releases names of delegation in talks with Iran and Pakistan
The White House provided a list of the U.S. officials involved in negotiations for ending the Iran war, including Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
Also participating are Andrew Baker, the national security adviser to the vice president, and Michael Vance, the special adviser to the vice president for Asian affairs.
Difficult issues for the talks
Foremost is Iran’s nuclear program, especially the status of its after last year’s U.S. and Israeli strikes on nuclear sites. Tehran has not allowed the U.N. nuclear watchdog to inspect since then.
Before the war, Iran’s was another main issue, especially for Israel, along with Iran’s support for armed proxies in the Middle East including , Houthi rebels in Yemen and .
Now other issues have emerged, notably Iran’s grip on the , a major waterway for Middle East oil, natural gas and related products like fertilizer.
Iran an end to attacks, compensation for earlier ones and a guarantee that no more will occur. It wants U.S. military forces to leave the region.
Tehran also wants longtime lifted.
Israel says it struck over 200 Hezbollah targets in the last 24 hours
The Israeli military said its air force hit infrastructure of the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon and was continuing to support its ground forces operating in southern Lebanon.
The statement came as Teheran was pressing for a halt to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in three-party talks that began Saturday afternoon between Iran and the US in Pakistan.
Earlier Saturday, the Lebanese state-run news agency reported at least three people killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon. There were no reported strikes in the afternoon hours.
In Israeli communities along the border with Lebanon sirens continued to warn of drone and rocket attacks from Lebanon throughout the day Saturday. There were no reports of injuries.
Trump says he opposes higher fertilizer costs for US farmers
The U.S. president posted on social media that he is monitoring fertilizer price and “will not accept†any increase in costs for farmers.
Fertilizer costs have increased globally because of natural gas supplies being stranded due Iran’s control of the Strait of the Hormuz. Iran has used the strait as strategic leverage in its ongoing war with the U.S. and Israel.
But Trump’s post was targeted at a domestic audience.
“I am watching fertilizer prices CLOSELY during our FIGHT FOR FREEDOM in Iran,†he posted. “The United States will not accept PRICE GOUGING from the fertilizer monopoly! American Farmers, we have your back!â€
US revokes green cards of more Iranian born relatives of current and former Iran officials
The Trump administration has revoked the green cards of more long-term Iranian residents of the United States who are related to current or former senior Iranian officials.
The State Department said Saturday it had taken action against Seyed Eissa Hashemi, a Los Angeles-area psychology teacher, his wife and son, all of whom were Iranian born lawful permanent residents of the US.
The department said in a statement released as talks to end the war with Iran were getting underway in Pakistan that they had been taken into custody by immigration authorities and are slated for deportation.
Hashemi, it said, is the son of Masoumeh Ebtekar who served as a spokeswoman for the attackers who took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and was later promoted to be Iran’s first female vice president.
Just last week, the State Department revoked the green cards of the niece and grand-niece of former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad in early 2020.
3-way talks with the US and Iran begin in Pakistan after earlier indirect discussions
Iran’s IRNA news agency said on Saturday that after progress in indirect discussions, negotiations have begun between the United States and Iran.
The country’s state-run news agency said three-party talks with the U.S., Iran and Pakistan had begun after a reduction in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon and other preconditions being met.
Trump says on social media that US has begun ‘clearing out’ Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. president posted on social media that Iran’s military has been destroyed and that America is beginning to open up the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway chokepoint used by Iran to restrict the shipping of 20% of the world’s oil supplies.
It was unclear from the post if Trump was referring to the possible use of mines in the Strait of Hormuz or Iran’s broader ability to control the area.
“We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others,†Trump posted. “Incredibly, they don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves.â€
France insists on ceasefire in Lebanon
French President Emmanuel Macron is urging ″respect for the ceasefire and its application to Lebanon.’′
In a social media post, Macron said he talked to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday and that in addition to discussing the ceasefire, they urged a return to free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The French leader didn’t mention the negotiations in Pakistan, but said he and Erdogan ″underlined the need for a robust and lasting diplomatic solution.’′
Macron has been speaking regularly with other world leaders about the war and helping lead efforts for a mission to secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz once the fighting calms. He has been particularly active in pushing for peace in Lebanon, a former French protectorate with close ties to France.
Iran delegation meets with Pakistan’s PM
An Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday.
According to a statement from Sharif’s office, Qalibaf was accompanied by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Sharif welcomed Iran’s engagement in the Islamabad talks and “affirmed Pakistan’s sincere resolve to continue playing its role as a mediator to help build momentum toward achieving meaningful results in the interest of regional and global peace and stability,†the statement said.
Sharif was joined by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
The statement gave no further details.
It was not immediately clear whether Sharif met the Iranian or U.S. delegation first as part of efforts to encourage direct talks aimed at resolving the regional conflict.
Iran official says a Lebanon ceasefire is a ‘basic demand’
Iran has conveyed its position to Pakistani officials who are mediating between the Islamic Republic and the U.S., an Iranian official said.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told Iran’s state-run television that a ceasefire in Lebanon is a “basic demand,†as Iran’s delegation met with Pakistani officials including army chief and prime minister.
Israel has continued striking Lebanon after a ceasefire last week between the U.S. and Iran was announced, even though mediator Pakistan has said that the tiny Mediterranean nation is part of the two-week pause.
Baghaei, meanwhile, described the talks as a “particular moment†for Iran, and framed diplomacy as a “continuation of defense and a continuation of war.â€
“An intense struggle is underway on the diplomatic front,†he said.
Trump portrays Strait of Hormuz closure as positive for US energy sector
U.S. President Donald Trump said in a social media on Saturday that oil tankers "are heading, right now, to the United States to load up with the best and ‘sweetest’ oil (and gas!) anywhere in the World.â€
The Iran war has led to Iranians effectively shuttering the Strait of Hormuz through which 20% of the world’s oil supplies gets shipped. That has pushed up energy prices and given Iran a key point of leverage in negotiations with the U.S.
But Trump argues that the U.S. can serve as an alternative source of oil and natural gas, though increased demand for American energy products could further push up prices for consumers unless there is more domestic production.
Iran submitted its ‘redlines’ to Pakistan's prime minister, report says
Iranian negotiators submitted their terms for the talks with the U.S. in their meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to Iran's state-run television.
Negotiators disclosed Iran's “redlines†that included compensation for damage caused by the American-Israeli strikes and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
They also include a mechanism to the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a “tangible and lasting ceasefire†in Iran and other areas - an apparent reference to Iran’s allies in the region.
Pakistani forces deploy to Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Defense Ministry said the Pakistani forces that include fighter and support aircraft arrived at a Saudi airbase on Saturday as part of a defense deal between the two countries.
The deployment came as officials from Iran and the U.S. are set to start talks Saturday in Islamabad that aim to end the war in the Middle East.
The ministry said the Pakistani force has been deployed at King Abdulaziz Air Base in the oil-rich eastern region which was repeatedly attacked with drones and missiles during the war.
The deployment aims at “enhancing joint military coordination … and supporting security and stability at both regional and international levels,†it said.
The pact was signed in September and defines any attack on either nation as an attack on both.
Vance meets with Pakistani primer minister
U.S. Vice President JD Vance met Saturday with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Both the White House and Sharif’s office announced the meeting, which comes as U.S. and Iranian officials are set to hold high-stakes talks later in the day.
Vance was accompanied by President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner.
Sharif’s office said the prime minister told the U.S. delegation that Pakistan looks forward to continuing its facilitation efforts to help both sides make progress toward sustainable peace.
Iran's state-run television reported earlier that Iran’s negotiating team also met with Sharif.
Search continues for missing after Israeli strikes in Beirut
Civil defense crews used cranes on Saturday to search through partially collapsed apartments, three days after Israeli strikes hit a six-story building in Beirut’s seaside neighborhood of Caracas.
The Israeli military struck some 100 sites that it said were connected to Hezbollah in the capital and other parts of Lebanon Wednesday, killing more than 300 people, including more than 100 women and children.
Civil defense officials said six people were killed in the Caracas building and a missing teenager was believed to be buried under a collapsed roof.
Najib Merhi, the owner of a snack shop on the bottom floor, said the strike came as a shock because “this is a touristic area, a safe area, an area that is shared between all the social fabric of this country.â€
Iranian negotiators meet with Pakistani prime minister
Iran's state-run television reported that Iran’s negotiating team chaired by parliament speaker Mahammad Bagher Qalibaf, met on Saturday with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Neither the Iranian delegation nor the prime minister’s office commented on the meeting in the Pakistani city city of Islamabad.
The meeting came as the U.S. and Iranian officials are set to start indirect high-stakes talks Saturday afternoon on ending the war in the Middle East.
Iranians say they're cautiously optimistic about a deal in peace talks
People in Iran’s capital say they’re hopeful that a deal can be struck in peace talks that began Saturday.
They told the Associated Press that they base that guarded optimism on both sides realizing that no one would gain from more war.
People said they’ve been worn down by weeks of airstrikes and warn that even if a deal is reached, the road to recovery will be long.
Amir Razzai Far, 62, said a peace deal isn’t enough “because we’ve been hit very hard, there have been huge costs, and the people have to pay for that.â€
Shahab Banitaba also questioned whether the U.S. could be trusted to uphold any agreement.
She said even if there’s something concrete on paper, “there is still a chance that the deal falls through.â€
Third-country mediators in Pakistan to assist U.S.-Iran peace talks
Officials from the region said on Saturday that Egyptian, Saudi, Chinese and Qatari officials are in Islamabad to indirectly facilitate the talks.
The officials were speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter.
European airports warn of jet fuel crunch
The head of Airports Council International-Europe, Olivier Jankovec, warned the European Union that a ″systemic jet fuel shortage’’ could come within three weeks because of the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz.
Jankovec said in a letter obtained by the Associated Press on Saturday that the crunch could impact the summer travel season and ″significantly harm the European economy.’′
He urged the EU to organize collective purchases of jet fuel for European countries, track stocks and identify alternative sources of jet fuel, among other measures.
The EU’s Energy Union Task Force which met Friday said there is ″no immediate risk to the EU’s security of oil and gas supply’’ from the Mideast conflicts and no need to release additional stocks.
But it warned of possible longer-term risks, and said ″jet fuel remains the primary concern’’ because of its reliance on imports.
Iran has ‘deep distrust’ in U.S., foreign minister says
Foreign Minister Abbas AraghchiIran said his country enters Saturday’s talks with the United States with “deep distrust†because the Islamic Republic was attacked twice during negotiations on its nuclear program.
Araghchi warned that his country would fight back if it was attacked, his office posted on Telegram.
The Iranian official, who spoke with German counterpart Johann Wadeful on Friday, also called for Israeli attacks on Lebanon to stop.
Pakistani analyst expects ‘good news’ in U.S.-Iran peace talks
Retired army general and senior defense analyst Tariq Rashid Khan on Saturday said “I think there will be good news, big news this week as a result of the talks."
Khan said Pakistan's Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir had played an important role in bringing the two sides to the negotiating table.
He said Pakistan offered to mediate because any further escalation could spark a wider conflict.
Iranian official says deal is possible if U.S. put ‘America First’
Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran’s first vice president, said on Saturday U.S.-Iran peace talks could produce a deal if U.S. officials worked in the interest of their country in line with President Donald Trump’s “America First†doctrine.
“However, if we face representatives of ‘Israel First,’ there will be no deal,†Aref said in a social media post.
He warned that “the world will face greater costs,†if the talks failed and the U.S. and Israel resumed the war against Iran.
Hospital says Israeli airstrike kills 6 in central Gaza
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital which received the casualties said the Israeli airstrike hit a security point in the urban refugee camp of Bureij around in the predawn hours Saturday.
The Israeli military told the Associated Press that it struck Hamas militants who allegedly came close to the so-called Yellow Line that separated the Israeli-controlled areas in Gaza from the rest of the strip.
The deaths were the latest among Palestinians in the territory since a ceasefire deal last October that aimed to halt a more than two-year war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
While the heaviest fighting has subsided, Israeli forces have carried out repeated airstrikes and frequently fire on Palestinians near military-held zones, killing more than 730 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.
The health ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. But it does not give a breakdown of civilians and militants.
Militants have carried out shooting attacks on troops, and Israel says its strikes are in response to that and other violations. Four Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire.
Pakistan’s foreign and interior ministers, top soldier receive U.S. delegation
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday received the U.S. delegation lead by U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
The ministry said in a statement that Dar commended the U.S. commitment to achieving lasting regional and global peace and stability.
He expressed hope that the parties would engage constructively and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to continue facilitating efforts toward a lasting and durable resolution to the conflict.
Lebanon’s state media reports 3 killed in Israeli strikes
The Lebanese National News Agency reported multiple Israeli strikes early Saturday in southern Lebanon, killing at least three people.
The three were killed when an airstrike hit and destroyed a residential building in Maifadoun town in the southern province of Nabatiyeh, according to the agency.
Hezbollah, meanwhile, said it fired a barrage of rockets that targeted a military facility in northern Israel.
US Vice President JD Vance arrives in Islamabad for ceasefire talks with Iran
Vance arrived in Islamabad at the head of a delegation that includes President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, was already in Islamabad.
Before departing for Pakistan, Vance warned Iran not to “play†the U.S. Hours later, Qalibaf said discussions would only take place if there is an Israeli ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked Iranian assets.
Pakistan sets up state-of-art media center for talks
Pakistan’s government has set up a state-of-the-art media center to facilitate Pakistani and foreign journalists covering the talks between the United States and Iran, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said.
Tarar told reporters the facility at the Jinnah Convention Center offers high-speed internet and a range of free services to support media coverage. Shuttle services have been arranged to transport journalists between the media center and a hotel in the city’s main shopping mall.
Pakistan has announced visa-on-arrival for journalists and official delegations traveling from the United States and Iran for the talks, which have been dubbed the “Islamabad talks.â€
Inside the media center, rows of workstations equipped with laptops and charging points allow reporters to file stories. Large screens broadcast major domestic and international television channels. The facility also has designated areas for live stand-ups, press briefings and interviews.
Islamabad appears deserted before Iran war talks
The streets of Pakistan’s normally bustling capital were deserted Saturday as security forces sealed roads ahead of talks between high-level officials from Iran and the U.S. to end their nearly six-week war. Pakistani authorities urged Islamabad residents to stay inside, leading the city to look like it was under curfew.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance is leading the American delegation, which was expected to arrive before noon.
Iranian negotiators, headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, arrived late Friday.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif the conflict was entering a “difficult phase†as the sides try to shift from a temporary pause in fighting to a more lasting settlement. He said they were at a “make-or-break†moment.
