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Iran headed to Pakistan for talks, but were they for peace or were they standard bi-lateral talks between the two nations? US Central Command reported another ship was turned around in the Arabian Gulf. Israel wants the war to resume. Everyone else wants it to stop. Get the latest from the US/Israel Iran War ceasefire recap from day 17 of the ceasefire (April 25).
US and Iranian standoffs continued into the weekend, with the US blockade allegedly preventing some Iranian vessels from entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran’s closure for international vessels continues to have an impact on global economies and local refinery production in regional countries.
Diplomatically, the United States could potentially remove the blockade of Iran’s vessels before the weekend is over, however, this is unlikely because President Donald Trump appears to believe that the blockade is working against Iranian vessels only, disregarding the fact other shipping has completely halted in the Strait.
Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and the IRGC need to form an agreement that can be presented on nuclear enrichment and the use of the current stockpile, which Iran had previously agreed to dilute and use for power generation in accordance with the IAEA, various sources recently reported, but any decision on the matter was taken out of the Foreign Minister’s hands.
Therefore, the talks in Pakistan, according to Al-Akhbar, which were attended by Field Marshal Asim Munir, were allegedly a reciprocal visit for the recent trip that Munir and a delegation made to Tehran, completely separate to any war-related issues, however they did have a message that was to be passed onto the US delegation if or when they were due to arrive, before Araghchi left Islamabad after almost 20 hours of discussions for more regional talks in Muscat, Oman, and Munir travelled towards the Gulf regions for possible talks with regional counterparts.
FM Araghchi also met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during talks with officials in Islamabad.
Taking to X, Araghchi said: “Very fruitful visit to Pakistan, whose good offices and brotherly efforts to bring back peace to our region we very much value. Shared Iran’s position concerning workable framework to permanently end the war in Iran, but have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy.”
President Trump must have received Iran’s position from Pakistan early, because although the NYT were quick to report that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were due to arrive in Islamabad on Saturday morning around the same time as the Iranian delegation was there, Trump had cancelled the travel plans, telling Fox News there was no point sending the delegation on an 18-hour flight for talks that would lead to nowhere, that Iran had the number for the USA, and can get in touch when they’re ready to make a deal, adding that the United States was already holding all the cards. Trump later confirmed in a phone call to Axios that the trip was cancelled due to the Iranian position in the negotiations, likely referring to the 10-point plan that would have been received from Pakistan.
Journalist Kamran Khan claimed informed Pakistani sources had said the prospect for the resumption of the second round of talks are rapidly fading, as Tehran is still not ready to meet the US delegation, which was expected to arrive later tonight from Washington,” adding that Iran continued to insist the Americans ended their naval blockade as a precondition for opening the second round of talks.
Foreign Minister Araghchi made his stop in Muscat after leaving Islamabad, leading a delegation that met with officials in Oman, and was scheduled to meet senior Omani officials to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments before heading back to Tehran.
Araghchi had no plans to return to Pakistan at the moment, reported Al Arabiya, noting that Iranian sources reported Araghchi’s attendance signalled process in the negotiations, because Tehran had delivered its response to the American demands to the Pakistani negotiator which had been forwarded to the White House, while IROP News and i24News reported that the security measures which had been in place for the weekend had started to be removed after Pakistan had abandoned hopes for renewed talks, however, later in the evening it was reported by the ISNA and Axios that Araghchi will make a stop in Islamabad again enroute to Russia on Sunday.
Iran told Pakistan that if Trump ended his constant threats it could help convince so-called hard-liners that now is the time to restart talks, reported the WSJ, stating that officials from mediating countries have said the US had shown some flexibility on Iran’s nuclear program, signalling it could allow some enrichment-related work later during the second decade of a proposed 15-20 year pause.
Lebanon:
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported on Saturday that the death toll from Israeli attacks had risen to 2,496, with 7,725 people injured since the Israeli aggression against civilians from March 2, adding that over 120,000 people were now sheltering in evacuation centres, including around 31,000 displaced families, adding that despite the ceasefire, Hezbollah and the IDF continue to exchange attacks in Southern Lebanon.
Other News:
Egypt: President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Saturday that Egypt had lost $10 billion in Suez Canal revenues due to attacks on ships in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, as he said the best path for the future of the region lies with cooperation, construction and peace, not in conflict and destruction, stressing the need to respect sovereignty of states and their territorial integrity and reject any attempts to divide them or ignite internal conflicts in them.
Germany: Defence Minister Boris Pristorius said Germany was sending a minesweeper to the Mediterranean to prepare for a possible deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, alongside a command and supply ship, reported RP, adding that any mission would require a ceasefire, legal framework, and parliamentary approval.
India: Business Standard reported that India intended to sell its shares in Iran’s Chabahar port due to the expiration of the United States sanctions exemption, which stated that New Delhi was also considering a temporary option under which an Iranian operator manages the port during the sanctions period, after which operational management could be returned to India.
Iran: Reports were published by Israeli N12 of a fire that had broken out at an adhesive factory in the west of Tehran, while other media outlets including War Spectators reported that an explosion had occurred at a factory that manufactures helicopters.
Iran: President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday; “The enemies are targeting our infrastructure and trying to surround us to make people dissatisfied and turn current satisfaction into discontent, but people should not allow the conditions for dissatisfaction to arise,” adding that for now, Iran does not need people to make sacrifices, but did need people to control consumption: “Instead of turning on 10 lights, use 2 lights – what’s the problem with that,” he added.
Iran: Khatam al-Anbiya Central HQ released a statement saying: “If the aggressive US military continues its siege, piracy, and maritime robbery in the region, be assured that they will face the reaction of Iran’s powerful armed forces,’ stating that the US should know that the armed forces of Iran possess greater power and readiness than before to defend sovereignty, territory and national interests: “We are ready and determined, while monitoring the behaviour and movements of enemies in the region and continuing to manage and control the strategic Strait of Hormuz, to inflict more severe damage on the American-Zionist enemies in case there is another aggression.”
Iran: Ministry of Defence spokesperson said on Saturday that the Iranian armed forces countrolled the skies of Israel right up until the ceasefire, and that a significant portion of the country’s missile capabilities remained intact: “The capability is the result of over 25 years of preparation and investment by the defence ministry, the armed forces, the private sector and knowledge-based companies,” he said, claiming that Iran’s missile superiority was now acknowledged by international observers.
Iran: Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei said on social media that the anniversary of the US’s ‘humiliating defeat’ in Tabas had a different colour today, claiming that ‘enemy commandos’ grounded in Isfahan during the war suffered a heavy and instructive defeat at the hands of Iran’s armed forces: “The Americans should know that they are also incapable of imposing a naval blockade on Iran – Tabas and Isfahan will be repeated in the waters of the Persian Gulf,” he said.
Iran: Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport reopened on Saturday morning with the resumption of international flights, and the first passengers were flown to Medina, Muscat and Istanbul, while Iran Air will resume scheduled flights to Baku, Najaf, Baghdad and Doha in the coming days.
Iran: Isfahan resident Erfan Kiani was executed on Friday morning after being convicted of carrying out alleged intelligence missions for Israel’s Mossad during nationwide demonstrations in January, reported Irib News, noting that it’s alleged that Kiani led a group that destroyed public property, set fires and fired guns, and the execution followed Supreme Court Approval, despite Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights condemning the execution, noting it was the eighth of a protest-related detainee since the outbreak of the war.
Iran: US Central Command reported they had intercepted the Sevan oil tanker in the Arabian Sea using a US Navy helicopter launched from the guided-missile destroyer the USS Pinckney (DDG 91), noting the merchant vessel was complying with US military direction to turn back to Iran under escort, leading to a total of 37 vessels redirected and two seized since the start of the blockade, but just five since Wednesday, while Iran’s blockade of the Strait has stopped hundreds if not thousands of vessels in the same period.
Israel: Finance Minister Smotrich said that either Iran surrendered, or Israel go back to war, and there must be new defensible borders established on all fronts, while the Chief of Staff for Israel also recommended that Washington needed to resume the war against Iran.
Jordan: A US servicemember who was stationed at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan drew artwork on the wall of a concrete shelter they were forced to use, illustrating Iranian projectiles and marking 78 drone and missile attacks on the base between February 28 and March 19.
Pakistan: Prime Minister Shehbaz wrote on X that he had shared a warm and constructive telephone exchange with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the evolving regional situation, in which he appreciated Iran’s engagement, including the high-level delegation to Islamabad led by FM Araghchi who he had met earlier on Saturday, while reaffirming, with the support of friends and partners, Pakistan remained committed to serve as an honest and sincere facilitator – working tirelessly to advance durable peace and lasting stability in the region.
Saudi Arabia: Al-Haq News reported that despite the regional situation and tensions between the involved countries, Saturday saw a group of pilgrims travel from Iran towards Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.
Somalia: Pirates hijacked the Honour 25 oil vessel around 45 nautical miles northeast of Marow, off the coast of Somalia along with its 17 crew members on Wednesday afternoon, according to security officials who spoke with the BBC, who stated that the vessel was carrying around 18,500 barrels of oil when t was captured, while noting the nationality of the 17 crew members included ten Pakistanis, four Indonesians, one Indian, one Sri Lankan, and one from Myanmar.
Turkey: Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey hadn’t ruled out taking part in demining operations in the Strait of Hormuz following a possible peace agreement between Iran and the US, noting that a technical team from various countries would be carrying out the work which Turkey viewed as humanitarian duties, while adding that he believed issues related to Iran’s nuclear programme could be resolved at the next round of talks in Pakistan.
UAE: Air Force F-16E fighter jets were spotted with their insignia and tail numbers painted over as they escorted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s aircraft coming from Saudi Arabia, but the UAE F-16’s in regular service clearly display national markings and insignia, leading analysts to believe the absence of identifying marks suggested an effort to conceal possible UAE involvement in operations against Iran, should the aircraft be lost or filmed at low altitude, Warfront Witness reported.
USA: Iran inflicted significantly more damage on US military bases in the Middle East than has been publicly disclosed, US officials and congressional aides told NBC News, stating that US installations and equipment in the Gulf countries continuously came under attack, including from an Iranian F-5 fighter, despite American air defences, adding that the extent of the damage was said to be substantial, with repair costs potentially running into the billions of dollars.
USA: Bloomberg reported that the oil production in the Arabian Gulf had dropped by 57%, showing a significant decrease in oil production levels due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with estimates indicating that the total oil production in Arabian Gulf is now currently 57% lower than it was before the war with Iran, and that it would take time to return to pre-war levels.
USA: Israeli Channel 12 reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s opinion that the military operation wasn’t a new war but a direct continuation of the confrontation with Iran since 1979, claiming this was being submitted ahead of the May 1 deadline, which would then mean the administration required Congressional approval for the continuation of fighting, while also intending to legitimize the strikes that led to Khamenei’s assassination.
USA: Despite US Central Command still trying to insist on Friday that the military in the Middle East were eating an healthy amount of eggs and had enough food portions to go round, photos from the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier that were obtained by Newsweek showed very small food portions amid concerns that sailors are constantly going hungry.
USA: Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been absent from peace talks, including the upcoming round in Pakistan, as President Trump outsourced the diplomacy to envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, reported the NYT, stating that because Rubio holds the dual role of Secretary of State and National Security Adviser – the first since Henry Kissinger – and has remained largely at home, travelling less than previous secretaries, as critics say arrangements left the State Department sidelined, while the administration argues its to ensure close coordination with the White House.
USA: Senator Lindsey Graham, who is always pushing for war, wrote on X that President Trump’s decision to cancel the US delegation to Pakistan to pursue further negotiations with Iran at this juncture was very wise, stating that the siege should continue to reopen the strait, and the resumption of military operations too if necessary, to ensure that Iran could never return to its old ways.
USA: Following President Trump’s Truth about the discord and fractures within the Iranian leadership, the WSJ published a post stating that tensions between Iranian hard-liners and more pragmatic officials were frustrating the United States, claiming that divisions were spilling into public view as they reported that ultraconservative lawmakers had criticised lead negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf for putting the nuclear issue on the table while the IRGC opposes the major concessions, and added that the Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei hadn’t been seen or heard of since the start of the war, claiming that analysts said the absence of a strong final arbiter made it harder for Tehran to reach a consensus.
USA: Senator Elizabeth Warren, a well-known Democrat from the US, wrote on social media that Trump promised to reduce costs in the United States, but instead, the policies have resulted in increased costs of food, housing, childcare and healthcare, reported Tasnim News, adding that Trump said he would be a President of peace but he bombed Iran under excuses he cannot explain, and Americans are paying the price for Trump’s unkept promises.
