Senior Iranian officers arrive in Islamabad for ceasefire talks with the USA.
Printed On 11 Apr 2026
Senior Iranian officers have arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, for ceasefire talks with the USA as violence continues throughout the area.
Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi are main the Iranian facet 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 stated Washington is able to “prolong 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 scenario on the bottom stays unstable.
Lebanon’s Well being Ministry stated on Friday that no less than 357 folks have 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 stated the state-imposed shutdown had exceeded 1,000 hours, making it one of many longest nationwide web disruptions on report.
- ‘No belief within the US’ as talks strategy: Analyst Zohreh Kharazmi instructed Al Jazeera Iranians stay sceptical forward of the negotiations, regardless of Tehran believing it holds leverage, together with over the Strait of Hormuz.
Struggle diplomacy
- Iran arrives for talks: Iran’s delegation of top officials, led by Ghalibaf, arrived in Islamabad for ceasefire talks with the US, Iranian state tv reported on Friday.
- Lebanon-Israel talks: Lebanon’s presidency stated in an announcement on Friday {that a} assembly will probably 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 property on Friday as Vance warned Tehran to not “play” Washington of their talks.
- Trump warning: US President Donald Trump stated Iran has “no playing cards” in upcoming talks with the US. In a separate interview with the New York Put up, the US president stated 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 stated the Strait of Hormuz will probably be reopened with or without Iran’s help, pledging Washington will “open up the Gulf” amid ongoing disruption to international power provides.
- US searching for fast ‘victory’: Former US ambassador Douglas Silliman instructed Al Jazeera that Trump is more likely to push for a quick end result within the talks to ease financial stress, with the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz seen as a important precedence.
- Inflation provides urgency: US shopper costs surged to a two-year excessive, growing stress on the administration as financial considerations develop at house.
- Vance leads US delegation: Vice President JD Vance is heading the negotiating crew in Islamabad, alongside senior officers, together with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and advisers comparable to Jared Kushner.
In Israel
- Stress 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 combating in Lebanon regardless of talks: Israel’s navy operations and increasing floor offensive in Lebanon continued, at the same time as ceasefire negotiations have been scheduled.
- Hezbollah fires on Israel: The Israeli navy stated Hezbollah fired about 30 projectiles into Israel, reporting that some strikes brought about harm. Air raid sirens have been heard throughout northern Israel.
In Gaza and Jerusalem
- 1000’s 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 no less than six folks and injured a number of others on the Bureij refugee camp within the central Gaza Strip, in accordance with the Gaza Well being Ministry.
- Loss of life penalty backlash: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan closely criticised a brand new Israeli regulation that permits navy 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 stated practically 2,000 folks have been killed by Israeli air strikes and floor operations since early March, with 1000’s extra wounded.
- Lebanon in meals disaster: The United Nations World Meals Programme (WFP) stated the nation was dealing with a meals safety disaster, with costs surging and provide chains disrupted amid Israel’s offensive.
