Israel-Iran war updates on April 11, 2026: Iran talks pause after 15-hour negotiation, disagreements remain
The Hindu Bureau·2026-04-11·via The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.
Iran denies an earlier claim by the U.S. that two Navy destroyers transited the Strait Of Hormuz
Updated - April 12, 2026 06:23 am IST
Vice President JD Vance meets with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to talk about Iran, April 11, 2026, in Islamabad.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters
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U.S. Vice President JD Vance held talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday (April 11, 2026), the White House and Mr. Sharif’s office said, with special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner also taking part. “Prime Minister expressed the hope that these talks would serve as a stepping stone toward durable peace in the region,” Mr. Sharif’s office said.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Saturday (April 11, 2026) that he hoped the United States and Iran would engage constructively in peace talks. Mr. Dar also reiterated Islamabad’s desire to continue facilitating the parties to reach a “lasting and durable solution to the conflict”, according to a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.
Iran insisted on a truce in Lebanon and unfreezing of its assets for the negotiations to go ahead. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on Friday (April 10, 2026) warned Iran not to “play” the U.S. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to have the Strait of Hormuz open “with or without” Iran’s cooperation and said his top priority at the Islamabad talks was to ensure the Islamic republic cannot have a nuclear weapon.
WATCH | IAEA chief interview: Was Trump’s post mere bluster or nuclear threat?
April 12, 2026 04:54
U.S., Iran to resume talks later Sunday after marathon negotiations: Iranian media
The United States and Iran were set to resume top-level peace talks in Pakistan later Sunday, Iranian media reported, following marathon negotiations that lasted nearly 15 hours.
“End of 15-hour marathon talks on first day of Iran-U.S. talks in Islamabad,” Tasnim news agency reported, with another media outlet Mehr saying the next round of negotiations will be held after sunrise.
- AFP
April 12, 2026 03:48
How was the U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal reached?
How was the U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal reached?
Explore the U.S.-Iran ceasefire negotiations, Pakistan's mediation role, and Israel's opposition to the talks.
April 12, 2026 03:09
Iran Guards say will deal 'severely' with military ships transiting Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened to deal “severely” with any military vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, state TV reported on Sunday (April 12, 2026), after the U.S. Central Command said two US Navy warships had transited the strategic waterway to clear mines laid by Tehran.
“Any attempt by military vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz will be dealt with severely. The IRGC Navy has full authority to manage the Strait of Hormuz intelligently,” the Guards’ Navy Command said, according to state broadcaster IRIB, adding passage of the strait would only be “granted to civilian vessels under specific conditions”.
- AFP
April 12, 2026 02:41
Trump says China will have big problems if it ships arms to Iran
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday told reporters that China will have “big problems” if it ships arms to Iran.
Mr. Trump said that it “makes no difference to him” if there is a deal with Iran. “Regardless of what happens, we win,” he said.
He claimed that the U.S. has “mine sweepers” in the Strait of Hormuz.
- AFP
April 12, 2026 02:38
Iran denies claims that U.S. vessels entered Strait of Hormuz
A spokesperson for Iran’s joint military command has denied an earlier claim by the U.S. that two Navy destroyers transited the Strait Of Hormuz, adding that “initiative over the passage of any vessel rests with the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran”, according to Iran’s state-media.
Earlier, the U.S. military said two destroyers transited the Iran-gripped waterway ahead of mine-clearing work, a first since the war began.
Iran’s state media, however, said Iran forced a U.S. military ship that was attempting to cross the strait to turn around.
- AFP
April 12, 2026 01:49
Israel reprimands Spain over blowing up of Netanyahu effigy
Israel said on Saturday (April 12, 2026) it had reprimanded Spain’s most senior diplomat in Tel Aviv over the blowing up of a giant effigy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a Spanish town this week.
The seven-metre (23-foot) figure was packed with 14 kilograms (31 lb) of gunpowder in El Burgo, a small town near the southern city of Malaga, in a decades-old ceremony on April 5, its Mayor Maria Dolores Narvaez told local television.
“The appalling antisemitic hatred on display here is a direct result of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government’s systemic incitement,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X which highlighted a video clip.
- Reuters
April 12, 2026 01:48
Lebanese bury 13 officers killed by Israel as grief, rage surge ahead of talks in U.S.
Women in black screamed in grief and toddlers sobbed uncontrollably, calling out for their dead fathers and uncles. Men in uniforms, pistols strapped to their belts, wept openly for their comrades at the funerals on Saturday (April 11, 2026) for 13 Lebanese state security officers killed in an Israeli airstrike the day before.
In the past week, similar funeral scenes have played out hundreds of times across Lebanon as Israel intensified attacks against what it says are Iran-backed Hezbollah infrastructure and militants.
The Israel-Hezbollah war – raging in the shadow of the larger U.S.-Israeli war on Iran – has so far killed more than 2,000 people in Lebanon and wounded thousands more.
- AP
April 12, 2026 01:46
Israel PM slams Erdogan after comments on Iran ceasefire
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply criticised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday (April 11, 2026) after comments he made about the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, vowing that Israel would continue fighting Tehran and its regional proxies.
Shortly after the United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire earlier this week, Erdogan warned U.S. President Donald Trump of “possible provocations and sabotage” that could undermine the agreement, without specifying who might threaten the deal.
On Saturday (Apri 11, 2026), Mr. Netanyahu responded by criticising the Turkish leader.
“Israel, under my leadership, will continue to fight Iran’s terror regime and its proxies, unlike Erdogan who accommodates them and massacred his own Kurdish citizens,” Mr. Netanyahu said on X.
- AFP
April 12, 2026 00:32
Israel PM says wants Lebanon peace deal 'that will last for generations'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday (April 11, 2026) that any peace agreement reached with Lebanon must be one that “lasts for generations”.
“Lebanon has approached us. In the past month, it has reached out several times to begin direct peace talks,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a televised statement.
“I have given my approval, but on two conditions: we want the dismantling of Hezbollah’s weapons, and we want a real peace agreement that will last for generations.”
- AFP
Campaign against Iran not over, existential threats removed: Netanyahu
Netanyahu declares ongoing campaign against Iran, citing significant achievements and addressing threats from Hezbollah, Hamas, and regional conflicts.
April 12, 2026 00:15
Israel PM says war succeeded in 'crushing' Iran nuclear, missile programmes
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday (April 11, 2026) that the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran had succeeded in “crushing” the Islamic republic’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
“We have succeeded in crushing the nuclear programme, and crushing the missile programme,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a televised statement, adding that the war against Tehran had also weakened Iran’s leadership and its regional allies.
“They wanted to strangle us, and [now] we are strangling them. They threatened us with annihilation, and now they are fighting for survival.”
- AFP
April 12, 2026 00:00
Iran media says U.S. making 'excessive demands' on Strait of Hormuz in Pakistan talks
Iranian media said on Saturday (April 11, 2026) that the United States was making “excessive demands” on the Strait of Hormuz during talks in Pakistan to end the West Asia war.
The Fars news agency said “the U.S. is making excessive demands regarding the Strait... the U.S. has also made unacceptable demands on several other issues”. The Tasnim news agency also reported on Washington’s demands regarding the strategic waterway.
- AFP
April 11, 2026 23:29
Iran state TV says third round of U.S. talks expected 'tonight or tomorrow'
Two rounds of talks have taken place between Iranian and U.S. officials in Pakistan with a third round expected on Saturday (April 11, 2026) evening or Sunday (April 12, 2026), Iranian state television reported as negotiations were underway in Islamabad.
“According to information provided to the state TV correspondent by a person close to the negotiating team, another round of negotiations will likely be held tonight or tomorrow,” state broadcaster IRIB reported.
The trilateral direct negotiations were taking place with host Pakistan, a senior White House official said earlier Saturday (April 11, 2026), a departure from recent practice where both sides held talks via a mediator while seated in separate rooms.
- AFP
April 11, 2026 23:24
In fiery speech, Pope Leo says 'Enough to war!'
Pope Leo lashed out against warmongers on Saturday (April 11, 2026) while calling on billions of people around the globe to embrace peace and “believe once again in love, moderation and good politics”.
In one of his most passionate entreaties yet to end the raging conflict in West Asia, the American pope said faith was needed “in order to face this dramatic hour in history together”.
“Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life,” Pope Leo implored in an address during a prayer vigil for peace at St Peter’s Basilica.
- AFP
April 11, 2026 23:23
White House says trilateral in-person talks with Iran, Pakistan 'ongoing'
The White House said high-level in-person trilateral talks with Iran and Pakistan were “ongoing” in Islamabad late on Saturday (April 11, 2026), with negotiations aimed at ending the war in West Asia.
A senior White House official said in a brief statement that the talks were continuing, after Iranian state media earlier reported that two rounds had taken place and a third was expected.
- AFP
April 11, 2026 23:22
More than 2,000 people killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon during Israel-Hezbollah war: officials
The death toll in Lebanon from Israeli strikes in the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah has risen to 2,020, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Saturday (April 11, 2026).
The death toll from nearly six weeks of war includes 248 women, 165 children and 85 health workers, the Ministry said. Another 6,436 people have been wounded. Nearly 100 people were killed in the past 24 hours.
- AP
April 11, 2026 22:55
U.S. warships transit Strait of Hormuz in mine clearance op
Two U.S. Navy warships have transited the Strait of Hormuz at the start of an operation to clear the strategic waterway of mines laid by Iran, U.S. Central Command said today.
The announcement -- which marks the first such transit since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began -- came shortly after President Donald Trump said Washington had started “clearing out” the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s crude oil passes.
“Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage, and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,” said CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper.
-AFP
U.S. warships transit Strait of Hormuz in mine clearance operation
U.S. warships transit the Strait of Hormuz for mine clearance, while Iran denies the claims amidst ongoing conflict.
April 11, 2026 22:45
Lebanon says Israeli strike on country's south kills 8
Israeli strikes on a village near Sidon in south Lebanon today killed eight people and wounded nine others, five of them seriously, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.
Earlier today, Israeli strikes killed 10 people in the Nabatiyeh district, including three emergency workers -- a day after the Lebanese presidency said officials from Lebanon, Israel and the U.S. would meet next week in Washington to “discuss declaring a ceasefire”.
April 11, 2026 21:52
Trump says he has no idea how talks will go with Iran
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed in a phone interview with NewsNation that talks among the U.S., Iran and Pakistan had begun, though he does not know how successful they could be.
When asked how negotiations would go, Mr. Trump said: “I have no idea.” The U.S. President said he would know shortly if he felt Iran was acting in good faith about resolving the war.
Mr. Trump added that the U.S. knew where mines had been placed in the Strait of Hormuz and that the military was bringing equipment to remove them.
-AP
April 11, 2026 21:43
French President Macron says he held talks with Iran's President
French President Emmanuel Macron said today that he had spoken with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, and had highlighted to him the importance of de-escalating the current situation through the ceasefire talks in Pakistan.
“I stressed the need for Iran to restore freedom of navigation and security in the Strait of Hormuz as quickly as possible, to which France stands ready to contribute. I insisted on the importance of fully respecting the ceasefire, including in Lebanon,” Mr. Macron said in a post on X.
-Reuters
April 11, 2026 21:41
312 stranded Indian fishermen in Iran return home via Armenia
A group of 312 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India through Armenia, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said today.
The fresh batch was brought back home a week after 345 Indian fishermen were evacuated from Iran.
The External Affairs Minister thanked his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, for Armenia’s assistance in return for the Indian nationals.
“Another 312 Indian fishermen safely evacuated from Iran to India through Armenia. Thank the Government of Armenia and my friend @AraratMirzoyan for making it possible,” Mr. Jaishankar said on social media.
-PTI
April 11, 2026 21:24
Planes fly from Beirut airport despite Israeli bombing
Smoke from an Israeli strike still lingered in the air as a plane from Lebanon’s national carrier took off from Beirut airport, which has stayed open despite the latest war between Israel and Hezbollah.
The country’s only international passenger facility, whose departure boards are now largely red with cancellations, is located on the Mediterranean coast at the edge of Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Israel has pummelled the southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, with strikes since the Iran-backed group fired rockets at Israel last month, drawing Lebanon into the West Asia war.
“The airport has stayed open throughout this crisis” following risk assessments based on information received “mainly from the U.S. embassy”, said Mohammed Aziz, head of Lebanon’s civil aviation authority.
-AFP
April 11, 2026 21:10
Iraq elects Kurdish politician Nizar Amidi as President
raq’s parliament voted Saturday to elect Nizar Amidi, a political official with one of the country’s two main Kurdish parties, as president, five months after a parliamentary election that didn’t produce a bloc with a decisive majority.
His election comes as Iraq is reeling from the fallout of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Iraq became caught in the middle of the conflict, with Iran-backed militias launching attacks on U.S. bases and diplomatic facilities as well as on critical energy infrastructure.
Mr. Amidi, a member of the political bureau of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party, beat out a roster of candidates that included Iraq’s current Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, who was the pick of the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party.
-AP
April 11, 2026 21:01
Jaishankar starts his visits to UAE
April 11, 2026 20:33
U.S., Pakistan, Iran holding trilateral face-to-face talks: White House
The United States, Pakistan and Iran were holding face-to-face trilateral talks in Islamabad today, the White House said, as top officials met to try and end the war in West Asia.
A senior White House official said the three sides were holding the direct talks in person, a departure from recent practice where Washington and Tehran held talks only through a mediator while seated in separate rooms.
-AFP
April 11, 2026 20:09
U.S. revokes green cards of more Iranian born relatives of current, former Iran officials
The Trump administration has revoked the green cards of more long-term Iranian residents of the United States who are related to current or former senior Iranian officials.
The State Department said today it had taken action against Seyed Eissa Hashemi, a Los Angeles-area psychology teacher, his wife and son, all of whom were Iranian-born lawful permanent residents of the U.S.
The department said in a statement released as talks to end the war with Iran were getting underway in Pakistan that they had been taken into custody by immigration authorities and are slated for deportation.
-AP
April 11, 2026 20:08
Pakistan becoming peacemaker won't erase its past misdeeds, says Shashi Tharoor
With the high-stakes peace talks between the U.S. and Iran taking place in Islamabad, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor today said that he does not see India in competition with Pakistan regarding this issue and asserted that “who brings about the peace won’t matter if peace comes”.
Pakistan becoming peacemaker won't erase its past misdeeds: Tharoor amid U.S.-Iran peace talks
Shashi Tharoor emphasizes Pakistan's past misdeeds despite its potential role as a peacemaker in U.S.-Iran talks.
April 11, 2026 19:58
Journalists frozen out of Iran talks, waiting for briefing
They came from around the world: hundreds of journalists rushed to Islamabad’s flagship convention centre -- converted into a media hub by Pakistani authorities for landmark talks between the United States and Iran
But as negotiations began behind closed doors half a kilometre away, all the world’s media could do was wait -- and sip on an expertly brewed coffee while listening to live eastern folk music.
Some journalists, accredited by the Information Ministry, were nonetheless held up for about an hour at a checkpoint outside the venue as a convoy of VIPs swept past.
“I’m bored out of my mind,” one journalist told AFP, declining to be named.
Another offered a similar assessment: “There’s not much to do here.”
-AFP
April 11, 2026 19:00
Iran, U.S., Pakistan trilateral talks continue
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, as delegations from the United States and Iran are expected to hold peace talks, in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 11, 2026. Office of the Iranian Parliament Speaker/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, as delegations from the United States and Iran are expected to hold peace talks, in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 11, 2026. Office of the Iranian Parliament Speaker.
Photo: Reuters
April 11, 2026 18:50
Chinese oil tankers transit Strait of Hormuz, data shows
Two Chinese supertankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz today, shipping data on LSEG showed, likely the first vessels to exit the Middle East Gulf since the U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal was struck earlier this week.
Very Large Crude Carriers Cospearl Lake and He Rong Hai, both chartered by Unipec, the trading arm of Asia’s largest refiner Sinopec, entered and exited “Hormuz Passage trial anchorage” that bypasses Iran’s Larak Island today, the data showed.
-Reuters
April 11, 2026 18:43
Trump says U.S. is 'clearing' Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump today posted that the United States military has started to clear the Strait of Hormuz and that all of Iran’s minelaying ships have been sunk.
“We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz,” Mr. Trump wrote in a social media post.
-AFP
Trump says U.S. forces are ‘clearing’ Strait of Hormuz
Trump claims empty oil tankers are en route to the U.S. for loading amid ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations in Islamabad.
April 11, 2026 18:34
Trump portrays Strait of Hormuz closure as positive for U.S. energy sector
U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media today that oil tankers “are heading, right now, to the United States to load up with the best and sweetest’ oil (and gas!) anywhere in the World.”
The Iran war has led to Iranians effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz through which 20% of the world’s oil supplies are shipped. That has pushed up energy prices and given Iran a key point of leverage in negotiations with the U.S.
But Mr. Trump argues that the U.S. can serve as an alternative source of oil and natural gas, though increased demand for American energy products could further push up prices for consumers unless there is more domestic production.
-AFP
April 11, 2026 18:28
Iranian official says deal is possible if U.S. put 'America First'
Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran’s first Vice President, said today that U.S.-Iran peace talks could produce a deal if U.S. officials worked in the interest of their country in line with President Donald Trump’s “America First” doctrine.
“However, if we face representatives of Israel First,’ there will be no deal,” Mr. Aref said in a social media post.
He warned that “the world will face greater costs,” if the talks failed and the US and Israel resumed the war against Iran.
-AP
April 11, 2026 18:16
Iran, U.S., Pakistan trilateral talks begin in Islamabad
Iranian media said today that negotiations with the United States to end the West Asia war had begun in Islamabad, though the format of the talks remained unclear.
The Fars and Tasnim news agencies said “it was decided to begin negotiations” following “progress made during preliminary talks and the reduction of attacks by the Zionist regime in southern Beirut in Lebanon”, referring to Israel.
Iranian agencies Mehr and Isna also announced the start of negotiations, after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office said the peace talks had “commenced”.
-AFP
April 11, 2026 18:05
Hezbollah MP slams planned Lebanese talks with Israel as strikes kill 10
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah today reiterated his group’s rejection of direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, where authorities reported 10 people killed in Israeli attacks in the south.
The office of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said yesterday that officials from his country, Israel and the United States would meet next week in Washington “to discuss declaring a ceasefire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under U.S. auspices”.
Beirut is seeking the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory, while Israel has framed the talks as a step towards formally establishing peace with Lebanon, with which it has technically been at war for decades.
-AFP
April 11, 2026 18:03
Sri Lanka hopes Iran-U.S. talks will lead to lasting peace in West Asia
Sri Lanka today backed the dialogue between Iran and the U.S., saying it hopes the ongoing diplomatic process following a temporary ceasefire would lead to a durable peace in West Asia.
Welcoming the announcement of the temporary ceasefire and the “forthcoming dialogue”, the Foreign Ministry described it as a “significant step towards de-escalating tensions in the region and alleviating profound human suffering” caused by the conflict.
“We strongly encourage all stakeholders to seize this opportunity to work towards a permanent and durable solution through an inclusive peace process, which ensures long-term stability and security for all peoples in the region,” it said.
-PTI
April 11, 2026 18:02
Iran in touch with Lebanon to ensure ceasefire commitments respected, Foreign Ministry says
Iran has been in touch with Lebanon to make sure ceasefire commitments were being respected on all fronts, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson told state TV today from Islamabad, where talks involving senior U.S. and Iranian officials are taking place to end their six-week-old war.
Lebanese officials close to Hezbollah told Reuters on yesterday that the group was supportive of the Pakistan dialogue, and said it was the right approach instead of a separate set of talks in Washington next week.
-Reuters
April 11, 2026 17:56
Photos, belongings of children killed at school in Minab aboard plane carrying Iran’s delegation to Pakistan
April 11, 2026 17:41
Captain Ghalibaf steers negotiations on behalf of Iran
Speaker of the Parliament of Iran, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, steered the negotiations on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, reported Iran embassy in India.
April 11, 2026 17:34
France's Macron says discussed Iran ceasefire, Ukraine with Turkiye's Erdogan
French President Emmanuel Macron said today that he had discussed the Iran ceasefire talks and the situation in Ukraine with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
“We initially discussed the situation in the Middle East, and called for all parties to respect the ceasefire and to make sure this applies to Lebanon, and for all parties to respect the freedom of navigation in the Straits of Hormuz, and we highlighted the importance of getting a strong and lasting diplomatic solution,” wrote Mr. Macron on X.
-Reuters
April 11, 2026 17:33
Trump says empty oil tankers heading to U.S. to load up with oil, gas
U.S. President Donald Trump said today that large numbers of completely empty oil tankers were heading to the United States to load up with oil and gas.
“Massive numbers of completely empty oil tankers, some of the largest anywhere in the World, are heading, right now, to the United States to load up with the best and “sweetest” oil and gas anywhere in the World. We have more oil than the next two largest oil economies combined - and higher quality,” Mr. Trump said in a Truth Social post.
His post came as senior U.S. and Iranian officials were meeting today in Islamabad with Pakistani intermediaries as Tehran laid down its red lines that it said Washington must accept before face-to-face talks could take place to end their six-week-old war.
-Reuters
Trump says U.S. forces are ‘clearing’ Strait of Hormuz
Trump claims empty oil tankers are en route to the U.S. for loading amid ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations in Islamabad.
April 11, 2026 17:27
Saudi Arabia says Pakistan sends fighter jets to kingdom under defence pact
Pakistan has sent fighter jets and other military forces to Saudi Arabia to boost security under a defence pact between the two countries, the Saudi Defence Ministry said today, as Islamabad hosted talks aimed at ending the Iran war.
The deployment follows a wave of Iranian talks on the Gulf kingdom over the past weeks that struck key energy infrastructure and killed a Saudi national.
Riyadh and Islamabad signed a mutual defence pact in September 2025, committing both sides to treat any aggression against either country as an attack on both. That significantly deepened a decades-old security partnership.
Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said in a statement that Pakistani fighter jets and support aircraft had arrived at the King Abdulaziz Air Base in the country’s eastern province.
-Reuters
April 11, 2026 17:23
Iran's proposals and red lines have been forwarded to Pakistan PM
Iran’s proposals and red lines have been forwarded to Pakistan PM, Shehbaz Sharif, Iran media reports.
Iran’s red lines include the Strait of Hormuz, payment of war preparations, the release of blocked assets and a ceasefire across the region.
-Reuters
April 11, 2026 17:10
Goyal holds talks with Saudi Trade Minister on strengthening supply chains
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal today held discussions with Saudi Arabia’s Trade Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al Qassabi on ways to strengthen supply chains disrupted due to the West Asia crisis, after holding talks with his counterparts from the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait.
All these countries are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with which India is negotiating a free trade agreement.
The Commerce Ministry, in a statement, said that Mr. Goyal had a virtual call with Qassabi.
“The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and expressed optimism for early progress in the India-GCC FTA negotiations,” it said.
-PTI
April 11, 2026 17:02
U.S. and Iran envoys meet Pakistani PM as negotiations get underway
Senior Iranian and American delegations met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad today to begin negotiations towards a deal to end the West Asia war unleashed six weeks earlier by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran.
With the talks underway at Islamabad’s Serena Hotel, Iranian media said the negotiating format going forward had yet to be determined, and it was not clear whether the two sides would meet face-to-face or continue to exchange messages via the Pakistanis.
But both sides had arrived at the venue when the Iranian delegation, led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, met Mr. Sharif, followed by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, accompanied by White House envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
“Commending the commitment of both delegations to engage constructively, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that these talks would serve as a stepping stone toward durable peace in the region,” Mr. Sharif’s office said.
-AFP
April 11, 2026 16:56
LPG tanker Jag Vikram crosses Strait of Hormuz; first India-flagged vessel to transit after Iran-U.S. ceasefire
An India-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker, Jag Vikram, has crossed the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first such transit by an Indian vessel since a temporary two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran was announced, according to ship-tracking data.
The tanker moved through the strategic waterway between last night and this morning and was located in the Gulf of Oman, east of the Strait this afternoon, proceeding eastwards.
Read more:
LPG tanker Jag Vikram crosses Strait of Hormuz; first India-flagged vessel to transit after Iran-U.S. ceasefire
India's LPG tanker Jag Vikram crosses the Strait of Hormuz, marking a significant transit after the U.S.-Iran ceasefire.
April 11, 2026 16:49
Lebanon says 10 killed including 3 emergency workers in Israeli strikes on south
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said 10 people, including three emergency workers, were killed by Israeli strikes on south Lebanon today, as state media reported raids on more than a dozen locations.
The Ministry said three deadly strikes hit locations in the Nabatiyeh district, with the dead including a member of the Lebanese civil defence and two paramedics from the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Committee, decrying what it said was Israel’s “systematic” targeting of emergency workers.
-AFP
April 11, 2026 16:47
Saudi Finance Minister in Pakistan to show 'economic support'
The Saudi Finance Minister was in Islamabad today in a show of “economic support”, a source familiar with the matter told AFP, days after Pakistan said it would return billions in loans to Riyadh’s ally-turned-rival the UAE.
Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan had met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a day earlier, according to the premier’s office, which said Islamabad was committed to expanding cooperation “in trade, investment, and economic development”.
Jadaan’s visit comes as Islamabad hosts US-Iran talks aimed at ending the West Asia war, which he is not attending.
The trip was the latest sign of new alliances emerging in the Gulf amid the ongoing rift between the region’s two powerhouses.
-AFP
April 11, 2026 16:01
U.S. has not agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets, White House official says
A U.S. official on Saturday (April 11) denied reports that Washington has agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets.
Reuters reported earlier in the day that the U.S. had agreed to release Iranian frozen assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks, citing a senior Iranian source. - Reuters.
April 11, 2026 15:44
U.S. Vice President Vance holds talks with Pakistan PM Sharif
U.S. Vice President JD Vance held talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday (April 11), the White House and Mr. Sharif’s office said, with special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner also taking part.
“Prime Minister expressed the hope that these talks would serve as a stepping stone toward durable peace in the region,” Mr. Sharif’s office said.- Reuters.
April 11, 2026 15:32
Iran's new Supreme Leader has severe and disfiguring wounds: sources
Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is still recovering from severe facial and leg injuries suffered in the airstrike that killed his father at the beginning of the war, three people close to his inner circle told Reuters.
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has severe and disfiguring wounds, sources say
Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, still recovering from severe injuries sustained in an airstrike.
April 11, 2026 15:13
U.S. has agreed to release Iran's frozen assets 'held in Qatar and other foreign banks'
: Iran
A senior Iranian source said on Saturday (April 11) the U.S. had agreed to release Iranian frozen assets that were held in Qatar and other foreign banks, welcoming the move as a sign of “seriousness” in reaching a deal with Washington in talks in Islamabad.
The United States has not made any public comments on the issue of unfreezing assets.
The source, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters that unfreezing the assets was “directly linked to ensuring safe passage through Strait of Hormuz”, which is expected to be a key issue in the talks.- Reuters
April 11, 2026 15:01
Iran delegation meets Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif ahead of negotiations with U.S.: Iran state TV
An Iranian delegation met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Saturday (April 11), state TV reported, ahead of talks with the United States aimed at ending the war in the West Asia.
Confirming the sit-down, Iran’s state broadcaster added that “arrangements for the Iran-U.S. will be defined at the conclusion of this meeting”. - AFP
April 11, 2026 14:54
Hezbollah MP says direct talks with Israel are 'blatant violation' of constitution
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah on Saturday (April 11) reiterated his Iran-backed group’s rejection of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, a day after Lebanon’s President said such talks would take place next week in Washington.
The move is “a blatant violation of the (national) pact, the constitution and Lebanese laws... and it exacerbates domestic divisions at a time when Lebanon most needs solidarity and internal unity to face Israel’s aggression”, Mr. Fadlallah said in a statement.- AFP
April 11, 2026 14:18
Why the U.S.-Iran ceasefire is on shaky ground | Explained
There are serious differences between the American and Iranian versions of the ceasefire agreement
Why the U.S.-Iran ceasefire is on shaky ground | Explained
Explore the complexities of the fragile Iran-U.S. ceasefire agreement amid conflicting interpretations and ongoing tensions with Israel.
April 11, 2026 13:38
Pakistan sets up state-of-the-art media centre for talks
Pakistan’s government has set up a state-of-the-art media centre to facilitate Pakistani and foreign journalists covering the talks between the United States and Iran, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said.
Mr. Tarar told reporters the facility at the Jinnah Convention Centre offers high-speed internet and a range of free services to support media coverage. Shuttle services have been arranged to transport journalists between the media centre and a hotel in the city’s main shopping mall.
Pakistan has announced visa-on-arrival for journalists and official delegations travelling from the United States and Iran for the talks, which have been dubbed the “Islamabad talks.”- AP
Security personnel stand next to signs regarding U.S. and Iran negotiations, outside a media facilitation center in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Photo credit: AP
April 11, 2026 13:24
Iran's negotiators to meet with Pakistan's PM ahead of talks with the U.S.
The Iranian delegation is scheduled to meet with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at noon on Saturday (April 11), according to the Tasnim news agency, which is close to the powerful Revolutionary Guard.
Iran’s negotiating team, chaired by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, met late on Friday (April 9) with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir. - AP
April 11, 2026 13:11
Lebanon's state media reports 3 killed in Israeli strikes
The Lebanese National News Agency reported multiple Israeli strikes early on Saturday (April 11) in southern Lebanon, killing at least three people.
The three were killed when an airstrike hit and destroyed a residential building in Maifadoun town in the southern province of Nabatiyeh, according to the agency.
Hezbollah, meanwhile, said it fired a barrage of rockets that targeted a military facility in northern Israel.- AP
April 11, 2026 12:29
Pakistan expressed hope that U.S.-Iran would constructively engage in peace talk
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement after the arrival of U.S. delegation in Islamabad on Saturday (April 11) that, Pakistan desires to continue to support U.S. and Iran for reaching solution. The statement said that Pakistan’s Foreign Minister IshaqDar ‘commended U.S. commitment to achieving lasting global peace and stability’.
April 11, 2026 11:38
Vance lands in Pakistan for talks with Iran
U.S. Vice President JD Vance landed at an airbase near Pakistan’s capital on Saturday (April 11) ahead of negotiations with Iran aimed at ending the war in the West Asia.
Mr. Vance, who was sent by President Donald Trump to lead the U.S. negotiating team, was met by Pakistan’s powerful army chief Asim Munir after disembarking at Nur Khan air base near Islamabad. - AFP
April 11, 2026 11:01
Iran remembers children killed in Minab from joint Israeli-U.S. strike
April 11, 2026 10:57
U.S. delegates land in Islamabad
Two Pakistani sources informed Reuters that U.S. plane carrying U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner Iran landed in Pakistan’s Islamabad on Saturday (April 11) for talks with Iran. - Reuters
April 11, 2026 10:28
Islamabad appears deserted before Iran war talks
The streets of Pakistan’s normally bustling capital were deserted on Saturday as security forces sealed roads ahead of talks between high-level officials from Iran and the U.S. to end their nearly six-week war. Pakistani authorities urged Islamabad residents to stay inside, leading the city to look like it was under curfew.
-AP
April 11, 2026 10:24
Pakistan sets up state-of-art media center for talks
Pakistan’s government has set up a state-of-the-art media center to facilitate Pakistani and foreign journalists covering the talks between the United States and Iran, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said.
Tarar told reporters the facility at the Jinnah Convention Center offers high-speed internet and a range of free services to support media coverage.
-AP
April 11, 2026 09:54
US intelligence indicates China preparing weapons shipment to Iran: CNN
U.S. intelligence indicates China is preparing to deliver new air defence systems to Iran within the next few weeks, CNN reported late on Friday, citing three people familiar with recent intelligence assessments.
-Reuters
April 11, 2026 09:23
Israel won't discuss ceasefire
Israel’s U.S. ambassador Yechiel Leiter told his Lebanese counterpart in Washington that he “refused to discuss a ceasefire with the Hezbollah terrorist organisation”, according to a statement after a meeting.
Israel “agreed to begin formal peace negotiations” with the Lebanese government, with which it has no diplomatic relations, the Israeli ambassador said.
-AFP
April 11, 2026 09:06
Pakistan PM says process at 'make or break' stage
“A temporary ceasefire has been announced, but now an even more difficult stage lies ahead: the stage of achieving a lasting ceasefire, of resolving complicated issues through negotiations,” said Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government is leading mediations, in a televised speech.
“This is that stage which, in English, is called the equivalent of ‘make or break’,” he added.
-AFP
April 11, 2026 09:04
Iran says lacks 'trust' with U.S.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said shortly after arriving in Pakistan’s capital that previous experiences negotiating with the United States had led to a lack of trust.
“We have good intentions but we do not trust,” Iranian state media quoted him as saying.
“Our experience in negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and broken promises,” he added.
-AFP
April 11, 2026 08:47
Deeply concerned by mass casualties in Beirut: MEA
Speaking at a press briefing at the National Media Centre, the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said respect for “sovereignty and territorial integrity” within the international state system is “essential”.
Deeply concerned by mass casualties in Beirut: MEA
India expresses deep concern over civilian casualties in Beirut, emphasising the importance of sovereignty and international law.
April 11, 2026 08:32
Israel slams Pakistan Minister Khawaja Asif for ‘outrageous’ comments
In a strong denouncement of “outrageous” remarks made by Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Israel on Friday raised doubts about his country’s role as a “neutral arbiter”.
“Pakistan Defence Minister’s call for Israel’s annihilation is outrageous,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a post on X.
Israel slams Pakistan Minister Khawaja Asif for ‘outrageous’ comments
Israel condemns Pakistan's Khawaja Asif for "outrageous" antisemitic remarks amid ongoing peace mediation efforts.
April 11, 2026 08:15
Major ports clear 90% cargo backlog amid Hormuz disruptions
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday (April 10, 2026) said that nearly 90% of backlog cargo at India’s major ports has been cleared, following disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Read more here:
Major ports clear 90% cargo backlog amid Hormuz disruptions
India's major ports clear 90% cargo backlog after Hormuz disruptions, thanks to timely government intervention and proactive measures.
April 11, 2026 08:11
Trump gives Vance 'clear guidelines'
U.S. President Donald Trump, as per reports, has given Vice President J.D. Vance “some pretty clear guidelines” on the Islamabad negotiations with Iran today.
“As the U.S. president said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend an open hand. If they’re going to try to play us, they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive,” Mr. Vance told the media before boarding his plane to Islamabad.
-PTI
April 11, 2026 07:45
Lebanon toll mounts
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the death toll from Israeli strikes across the country on Wednesday (April 8, 2026) had risen from 303 to 357, with 1,223 people wounded.
It said the figure was not final and raised the overall toll in Lebanon since war erupted between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2 to 1,953 dead and 6,303 wounded.
Lebanon’s State Security agency said that one Israeli strike in the southern city of Nabatiyeh had killed 13 of its personnel. Israel said it had killed 180 Hezbollah militants in Wednesday’s strikes, while the Lebanese health ministry said that day’s attacks alone killed 357 and wounded 1,223 more, noting the count was still provisional as rubble is still being removed.
- AFP
April 11, 2026 07:19
Firmly oppose the targeting of civilians and infrastructure in West Asia conflict, says Jaishankar
India firmly opposes the “targeting of civilians and infrastructure” as well as the disruption of navigation due to the war in West Asia, said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, inaugurating the 9 th Indian Ocean Conference in Port Louis, which was over shadowed by the conflict and prospects for talks due to begin in Islamabad on Saturday (April 11, 2026).
Trump says U.S. will have Strait of Hormuz 'open fairly soon'
President Donald Trump told reporters that the U.S. will have the Strait of Hormuz “open fairly soon” but did not elaborate and acknowledged that it will not be an easy step.
Mr. Trump also suggested that other countries were offering help but did not identify any nation.
“Other countries use the strait. So we do have other countries coming up, and they’ll help out,” Mr. Trump said.
“It won’t be easy ... I would say this - we will have that open fairly soon,” Trump added. The blockade of the strait by Tehran since the start of the Iran war has caused the worst disruption to global energy supplies in history. The strait is a chokepoint for about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
- Reuters
April 11, 2026 06:17
Watch: Iranian delegation arrives in Islamabad
April 11, 2026 06:16
Iranian delegation in Pakistan for talks with U.S., Vance en route
Iranian officials arrived in Pakistan for peace talks with the United States as Tehran insisted on a truce in Lebanon and unfreezing of its assets for the negotiations to go ahead.
U.S. President Donald Trump vowed meanwhile to have the Strait of Hormuz open “with or without” Iran’s cooperation and said his top priority at the Islamabad talks was to ensure the Islamic republic cannot have a nuclear weapon.
Mr. Trump has dispatched Vice President J.D. Vance to Pakistan to meet with the Iranians in a bid to reach a peace deal in the West Asia war following a two-week ceasefire that was agreed on Tuesday (April 7, 2026).
Mr. Vance warned Iran not to “play” Washington as he headed to Islamabad to represent the United States at the high-stakes meeting along with Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
- AFP
Published - April 11, 2026 06:10 am IST
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