Issued on: 24/04/2026 - 03:38Modified: 24/04/2026 - 22:58
US President Donald Trump is sending envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan on Saturday to continue talks with Iran, the White House said Friday. The pair will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in Islamabad late Friday for “bilateral consultations". Read our live blog to see how all the day's events unfolded.
This live blog is no longer being updated.
Iran top diplomat arrives in Islamabad ahead of planned talks with US
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on Friday, Pakistan's foreign ministry said, ahead of planned Iran-US peace negotiations.
Araghchi "will hold meetings with Pakistan's senior leadership to discuss the latest regional developments as well as ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability", Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, without directly referencing talks with Washington emissaries Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Analysis: How Pakistan positioned itself as a mediator between US and Iran
US issues fresh Iran-related sanctions, Treasury says
The United States imposed fresh Iran-related sanctions on Friday and issued a general license authorizing the wind down of deals involving Chinese company Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co, according to a notice on the US Treasury website.
White House: we have seen some progess from Iran
The United States has seen some progress from the Iranian side in recent days and hopes more will be made in weekend talks, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Friday.
Trump to send Witkoff and Kushner to Pakistan for Iran talks, CNN reports
US President Donald Trump is sending special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan for talks with Iran's foreign minister, CNN reported on Friday, citing two administration officials familiar with the matter.
Vice President JD Vance is not currently planning to attend but he will be on standby to travel to Islamabad if negotiations progress, CNN said.
Israel PM says Hezbollah trying to 'sabotage' peace efforts with Lebanon
'US blockade has gone global,' says US defence secretary Hegseth
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Operation Epic Fury has achieved a decisive result in just weeks, focused on preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
He noted the mission is entering a new phase, giving Iran the chance to pursue a “good and wise” peace deal, while emphasising the strength of the US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, soon to be reinforced by a second aircraft carrier. FRANCE 24's Shirli Sitbon shares further details on the press conference.
Iran's Araqchi will hold bilateral talks on brief visit to Pakistan, two Pakistani sources say
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will hold bilateral talks during a brief visit to Pakistan on Friday, two Pakistani sources aware of the talks told Reuters.
Araqchi will discuss his side of the proposal for talks with the United States over the Iran war, which will then be conveyed to Washington, the sources said.
EU willing to ease Iran sanctions in event of comprehensive deal, Germany's Merz
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that the European Union is willing to gradually ease sanctions on Iran in the event that a comprehensive agreement is reached.
"The easing of sanctions can be part of a process," said Merz at an EU summit in Nicosia.
"And no one has objected to that," he added.
"It is, so to speak, part of the contribution we can make to advance this process and, hopefully, lead to a lasting ceasefire."
UN peacekeeper dies of wounds suffered in Lebanon
Iran state media confirms FM travelling to Pakistan
Iran state media confirmed that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi would travel on Friday to Pakistan, which has been mediating between the Islamic republic and the United States in a bid to end the Middle East war.
"Iran's Foreign Minister will begin a regional tour on Friday evening, April 24, travelling to Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow," the official IRNA news agency said, after a Pakistani official disclosed the visit.
"The purpose of this trip is to hold bilateral consultations, discuss ongoing developments in the region, and review the latest situation regarding the war imposed by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran."
Hezbollah lawmaker calls on Lebanon to 'withdraw' from Israel talks
Lawmaker Mohammed Raad, head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, called on Friday for Lebanon to "withdraw" from direct talks with Israel that US President Donald Trump says have a "very good chance" of achieving peace.
"The authorities ought to feel ashamed before their people and withdraw from what has been called direct negotiations with the Zionist enemy," he said in a statement, adding that "any official contact or meeting bringing together the Lebanese and Israeli sides amid the ongoing war ... will in no way enjoy Lebanese national consensus".
"Any so-called truce that grants the occupying enemy in Lebanon a special exemption to open fire ... is not a truce at all, but rather a devious deception and an attempt to dupe others, one that entails covering up Israeli hostility and turning a blind eye to the enemy's continued violations."
REPLAY: Press briefing by US Defence Secretary
Hegseth dismisses Pope Leo's criticism of Iran war
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday brushed off Pope Leo's comments criticising the war in Iran war, saying the Pope is "going to do his thing" and that was fine.
Hegseth warns Iran mine-laying would breach ceasefire
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that any attempts to lay more mines by Iran would be a violation of the ceasefire.
Pentagon chief Hegseth says Iran has chance to make a 'good deal'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday Iran had a chance to make a "good deal" with the United States, and added that 34 ships had been turned around from the Strait of Hormuz by the US Navy so far.
'Europe needs Strait of Hormuz much more than we do': Pete Hegseth
Switzerland to gradually reopen Tehran embassy
The Swiss government said on Friday it was gradually reopening its embassy in Iran, sending a small team of diplomats this week.
The embassy was temporarily closed on March 11 on security concerns over the US-Israeli war against Iran.
Israeli military issues evacuation order for north Lebanese town
Israel has issued an evacuation order for the town of Deir Ammar saying it will “act against” Hezbollah there.
It advised residents to leave immediately.
UAE official says rebuilding trust with Iran will take 'ages and ages'
Yesterday's key developments:
• US President Donald Trump announced that the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended for another three weeks, after delegates from both sides met in Washington with Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
• A senior Iranian parliament official announced that Tehran has received the first revenue from tolls it imposed on the Strait of Hormuz.
• Trump ordered the US navy to "shoot and kill" boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Clearing all existing mines could take up to six months, according to a new report.
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