Senior officials from the United States and Iran have arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, for ceasefire talks, even as violence persists across the region. The Iranian delegation in the negotiations is led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Representing Washington are US Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Prior to the discussions, Vance stated that Washington is prepared to “extend an open hand” should Iran negotiate in good faith, hinting at a potential diplomatic breakthrough following weeks of heightened tensions. Concurrently, the situation on the ground remains highly volatile. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health reported on Friday that at least 357 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Wednesday, cautioning that the death toll is anticipated to increase as more victims are identified.
**In Iran**
**’Accept Iran’s rights’:** Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the head of the Iranian delegation and parliament speaker, asserted that the US must acknowledge Iran’s rights if it seeks an agreement. He informed reporters that Iran has arrived in Islamabad in good faith, despite its distrust of the United States.
**No trust in the US:** According to Mehr news agency, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi conveyed to his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, that Iran approaches negotiations with the US with “complete distrust.”
**America First or Israel First?:** Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref suggested that the outcome of the critical talks in Islamabad hinges entirely on US priorities. He believes an agreement is achievable if US representatives prioritize their “America First” interests over an “Israel First” agenda.
**War diplomacy**
**’Minab 168′:** Iran’s 71-member delegation to Pakistan has adopted the name “Minab 168,” commemorating the 168 schoolgirls and teachers killed by US strikes on a primary school at the conflict’s outset. Beyond its symbolic significance, the delegation’s size underscores Iran’s serious approach to these negotiations.
**Iranians and Americans arrive for talks:** The US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, arrived in Islamabad early on Saturday. Iran’s delegation, headed by Ghalibaf, had arrived late on Friday.
**Lebanon-Israel talks:** Lebanon’s presidency announced on Friday that a meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at the US Department of State “to discuss declaring a ceasefire and the commencement date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices.”
**Iran demands Lebanon ceasefire:** Iran’s parliamentary speaker called for a truce in Lebanon and the unblocking of his country’s assets on Friday, while Vance cautioned Tehran against “playing” Washington during their discussions.
**Trump warning:** President Donald Trump asserted that Iran holds “no cards” in the forthcoming talks with the US. In a separate interview with The New York Post, the US president stated that US warships are being reloaded with weaponry, ready to strike Iran if the negotiations do not yield an agreement.
**In the US**
**Trump says Hormuz will reopen ‘fairly soon’:** The US president declared that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened “fairly soon,” with or without Iran’s cooperation, vowing that Washington would “open up the Gulf” amidst continued disruptions to global energy supplies.
**US seeking quick ‘victory’:** Former US ambassador Douglas Silliman informed Al Jazeera that President Trump is likely to push for a swift resolution in the talks to alleviate economic pressure, viewing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as a critical priority.
**Inflation adds urgency:** US consumer prices have soared to a two-year high, intensifying pressure on the administration amidst growing domestic economic concerns.
**In Israel**
**Pressure on Israel to pause strikes:** The US has reportedly urged Israel to cease attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon to prevent derailing the ongoing negotiations, especially as the current US-Iran ceasefire is slated to expire on April 21.
**Ongoing fighting in Lebanon despite talks:** Israel’s military operations and expanding ground offensive in Lebanon have persisted, even while ceasefire negotiations were scheduled.
**Hezbollah fires on Israel:** The Israeli military reported that Hezbollah launched approximately 30 projectiles into Israel, with some strikes causing damage. Air raid sirens blared across northern Israel.
**In Gaza and Jerusalem**
**Thousands at Al-Aqsa Mosque prayers:** Over 100,000 people attended the first Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem since its reopening after the US-Iran truce, according to the holy site’s Islamic authority.
**Gaza air strike:** The Gaza Health Ministry reported that an Israeli air strike killed at least six people and injured several others at the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.
**Death penalty backlash:** Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized a new Israeli law permitting military courts in the occupied West Bank to impose the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners convicted of “terrorism.” He likened the policy to Hitler’s actions against Jews and labeled it a “worse version of the apartheid regime.”
**In Lebanon**
**Heavy toll from Israeli attacks:** At least 10 people were killed by Israeli actions in Lebanon on Saturday. Lebanon’s Health Ministry stated that nearly 2,000 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes and ground operations since early March, with thousands more wounded.
**Lebanon in food crisis:** The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced that Lebanon is grappling with a food security crisis, marked by surging prices and disrupted supply chains amidst Israel’s offensive.
**More than 1.2 million forced to flee:** The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that shelters for displaced individuals in Lebanon are severely overcrowded, with nearly half of the country’s public schools now serving as reception centers.
#USIranConflict #CeasefireTalks #MiddleEastCrisis #IslamabadDiplomacy #LebanonUnderAttack #GazaStrip #AlAqsaMosque #StraitOfHormuz #IsraelPalestine #RegionalTensions
Leave a Reply