Senior Iranian officers arrive in Islamabad for ceasefire talks with the US.
Printed On 11 Apr 2026
Senior Iranian officers have arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, for ceasefire talks with the US as violence continues throughout the area.
Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and International Minister Abbas Araghchi are main the Iranian aspect within the negotiations, whereas Washington is being represented by US Vice President JD Vance, together with particular envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Forward of the talks, Vance mentioned Washington is able to “lengthen an open hand” if Iran negotiates in good religion, signalling a possible opening for diplomacy after weeks of escalating tensions.
On the identical time, the state of affairs on the bottom stays unstable.
Lebanon’s Well being Ministry mentioned on Friday that not less than 357 folks had been killed in Israeli assaults on Wednesday, warning that the demise toll is predicted to rise as extra victims are recognized.
In Iran
- Close to web blackout passes 1,000 hours: Monitoring group NetBlocks mentioned the state-imposed shutdown had exceeded 1,000 hours, making it one of many longest nationwide web disruptions on document.
- ‘No belief within the US’ as talks method: Analyst Zohreh Kharazmi informed Al Jazeera Iranians stay sceptical forward of the negotiations, regardless of Tehran believing it holds leverage, together with over the Strait of Hormuz.
Warfare diplomacy
- Iran arrives for talks: Iran’s delegation of prime officers, led by Ghalibaf, arrived in Islamabad for ceasefire talks with the US, Iranian state tv reported on Friday.
- Lebanon-Israel talks: Lebanon’s presidency mentioned in a press release on Friday {that a} assembly will likely be held on the US Division of State on Tuesday “to debate declaring a ceasefire and the beginning date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel below US auspices”.
- Iran calls for Lebanon ceasefire: Iran’s parliamentary speaker demanded a truce in Lebanon and the discharge of his nation’s blocked belongings on Friday as Vance warned Tehran to not “play” Washington of their talks.
- Trump warning: US President Donald Trump mentioned Iran has “no playing cards” in upcoming talks with the US. In a separate interview with the New York Publish, the US president mentioned US warships are being reloaded with weaponry to strike Iran if the talks fail to supply a deal.
Within the US
- Trump says Hormuz will reopen ‘pretty quickly’: The US president mentioned the Strait of Hormuz will likely be reopened with or with out Iran’s assist, pledging Washington will “open up the Gulf” amid ongoing disruption to world power provides.
- US looking for fast ‘victory’: Former US ambassador Douglas Silliman informed Al Jazeera that Trump is prone to push for a quick consequence within the talks to ease financial stress, with the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz seen as a crucial precedence.
- Inflation provides urgency: US shopper costs surged to a two-year excessive, rising stress on the administration as financial considerations develop at residence.
- Vance leads US delegation: Vice President JD Vance is heading the negotiating group in Islamabad, alongside senior officers, together with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and advisers resembling Jared Kushner.
In Israel
- Strain on Israel to pause strikes: The US has reportedly requested Israel to halt assaults on Hezbollah in Lebanon to keep away from derailing negotiations, with the present US-Iran ceasefire set to run out on April 21.
- Ongoing preventing in Lebanon regardless of talks: Israel’s army operations and increasing floor offensive in Lebanon continued, whilst ceasefire negotiations had been scheduled.
- Hezbollah fires on Israel: The Israeli army mentioned Hezbollah fired about 30 projectiles into Israel, reporting that some strikes induced injury. Air raid sirens had been heard throughout northern Israel.
In Gaza and Jerusalem
- Hundreds at Al-Aqsa Mosque prayers: Greater than 100,000 folks attended the primary Friday prayers on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem since its reopening following the US-Iran truce, the holy web site’s Islamic authority reported.
- Gaza air strike: An Israeli air strike killed not less than six folks and injured a number of others on the Bureij refugee camp within the central Gaza Strip, in line with the Gaza Well being Ministry.
- Dying penalty backlash: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan closely criticised a brand new Israeli legislation that enables army courts within the occupied West Financial institution to impose the demise penalty on Palestinian prisoners convicted of “terrorism”, evaluating the coverage to Hitler’s actions in opposition to Jews and calling it a “worse model of the apartheid regime”.
In Lebanon
- Heavy toll from Israeli assaults: Lebanon’s Well being Ministry mentioned practically 2,000 folks have been killed by Israeli air strikes and floor operations since early March, with hundreds extra wounded.
- Lebanon in meals disaster: The United Nations World Meals Programme (WFP) mentioned the nation was dealing with a meals safety disaster, with costs surging and provide chains disrupted amid Israel’s offensive.
