Iran’s international minister awaits U.S. delegation to Pakistan for peace talks : NPR

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AFP through Getty Photographs The White Home has confirmed that U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner are planning to journey to Pakistan Saturday for a brand new spherical of talks with Iran.

Iran's international minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday arrived in Islamabad, the place Pakistan hosted direct U.S.-Iran talks earlier this month. However his spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, denied {that a} direct assembly with the U.S. was deliberate.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x768+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb4%2Ffb%2F16e899d34be8b86d20b90403dabc%2Fgettyimages-2272365049.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x768+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb4%2Ffb%2F16e899d34be8b86d20b90403dabc%2Fgettyimages-2272365049.jpg" class="img" alt="This handout photo released by the Iranian foreign ministry shows Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (L) greeting his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi upon his arrival in Islamabad on April 24, 2026." loading="lazy"/> This handout picture launched by the Iranian international ministry reveals Pakistan's Overseas Minister Ishaq Dar (L) greeting his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi upon his arrival in Islamabad on April 24, 2026. Iranian Overseas Ministry/AFP cover caption

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Iranian Overseas Ministry/AFP "Iran's observations can be conveyed to Pakistan," he wrote on X.

The information of U.S. and Iranian officers touring to Pakistan got here the identical day that Israel's army stated it attacked southern Lebanon, concentrating on websites belonging to the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, and the militant group fired rockets into Israel.

That was regardless of President Trump's announcement that Israel and Lebanon agreed throughout White Home talks Thursday to increase the ceasefire by three weeks. Hezbollah was not concerned within the negotiations and has opposed them.

The shaky Israel-Lebanon ceasefire is linked to broader U.S. efforts to attract its battle with Iran to an in depth. Tehran has insisted that the preventing in Lebanon stay paused as a precondition for additional peace talks with the USA.

Trump unilaterally prolonged the ceasefire with Iran this week, hours earlier than it was set to run out, with out indicating a brand new expiration date.

Iran has dismissed that extension as "meaningless," saying the continued U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports is a violation of the deal and that the Iranian delegation won't return to the negotiating desk till the blockade is lifted.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F49%2Fa6%2Ffb5b1297430ca67f87dbfc85f047%2Fgettyimages-2272020320.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F49%2Fa6%2Ffb5b1297430ca67f87dbfc85f047%2Fgettyimages-2272020320.jpg" class="img" alt="Security personnel stand guard at a closed road leading to the Serena Hotel in the Red Zone area of Islamabad on April 23, 2026." loading="lazy"/> Safety personnel stand guard at a closed highway resulting in the Serena Resort within the Pink Zone space of Islamabad on April 23, 2026. Asif Hassan/AFP through Getty Photographs cover caption

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Asif Hassan/AFP through Getty Photographs Listed here are the newest updates on Day 57 of the battle within the Center East:

Attainable Iran talks | NATO rift | Mines in Hormuz | New sanctions | Pope Leo

Witkoff and Kushner journey to Pakistan for Iran talks White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt, talking on Fox Information on Friday, stated President Trump was dispatching Witkoff and Kushner to Islamabad "to go hear" what the Iranians must say.

"We're hopeful that will probably be a productive dialog and hopefully transfer the ball ahead in direction of a deal," she stated, including that the Iranians requested for the talks.

Vice President Vance, who led the U.S. delegation final time, will not be planning to journey this weekend, she stated.

"The vice chairman stays deeply concerned on this complete course of, and he'll be standing by right here in the USA, together with the president and the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and the complete nationwide safety workforce for updates," Leavitt stated.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1f%2F43%2F20b6d60c4df3bf1aea21a7eb37ca%2Fgettyimages-2272275566.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1f%2F43%2F20b6d60c4df3bf1aea21a7eb37ca%2Fgettyimages-2272275566.jpg" class="img" alt="White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks to the press at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 24, 2026. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will head to Pakistan on April 25 for a new round of talks with Iran on ending the war, Leavitt told Fox News." loading="lazy"/> White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks to the press on the White Home in Washington, DC, on April 24, 2026. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will head to Pakistan on April 25 for a brand new spherical of talks with Iran on ending the battle, Leavitt advised Fox Information. Alex Wroblewski/AFP through Getty Photographs cover caption

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Alex Wroblewski/AFP through Getty Photographs Iran's international minister, Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Islamabad Friday. "Goal of my visits is to carefully coordinate with our companions on bilateral issues and seek the advice of on regional developments," he stated saying the journey on social media. He famous he would additionally go to Oman and Russia.

Araghchi didn't say if he would take part in talks with the U.S. An announcement from Pakistan's Overseas Ministry stated Araghchi was assembly senior Pakistani officers.

On Thursday, President Trump stated he was in no hurry to succeed in a deal to finish the U.S.-Israeli battle with Iran. "I do not wish to rush. I wish to take my time," Trump advised reporters, including that he was ready to attend for "the perfect deal."

Spain shrugs off reported Pentagon memo trying to penalize NATO allies for Iran battle stance On Friday, Spain's prime minister pushed again in opposition to reported U.S. plans to penalize NATO allies who refused to help the U.S. in its battle with Iran.

The Reuters information company reported on Thursday in regards to the existence of an inner Pentagon memo, ready by prime Pentagon official Elbridge Colby, outlining measures that the U.S. may take to retaliate in opposition to what it known as "troublesome" allies.

NPR has not independently reviewed the doc. When requested in regards to the reported memo, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson declined to touch upon "inner deliberations," however stated the division is working to make sure the president has "credible choices to make sure that our allies … do their half."

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F12%2F81%2Fdecbdd5341d495acab2f09dd8e1b%2Fgettyimages-2272159453.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F12%2F81%2Fdecbdd5341d495acab2f09dd8e1b%2Fgettyimages-2272159453.jpg" class="img" alt="Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks to journalists as he arrives for an informal meeting of the European Council in Nicosia on April 24, 2026." loading="lazy"/> Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks to journalists as he arrives for an off-the-cuff assembly of the European Council in Nicosia on April 24, 2026. Nicolas Tucat/AFP through Getty Photographs cover caption

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Nicolas Tucat/AFP through Getty Photographs Whereas no NATO member volunteered to hitch fight operations, Spain has been essentially the most defiantly against the battle, deeming it unlawful and refusing to permit the U.S. to make use of bases on Spanish territory.

Reuters reported that the confidential communication singled out the Spanish authorities, suggesting it might be suspended from NATO, and that Spain and others may be blocked from prime positions contained in the alliance.

At a European Union summit, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was requested in regards to the Reuters report. "We do not work on the premise of emails," he responded, talking in Spanish. "We're engaged on official paperwork and positions, made on this case by the USA authorities."

Mines within the Strait of Hormuz Trump stated on social media Thursday he had ordered the U.S. Navy to "shoot and kill any boat" attempting to put mines within the Strait of Hormuz.

Talking at a Pentagon information convention on Friday morning, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth reiterated the president's risk, saying such vessels had been "appearing like pirates, appearing like terrorists."

"They're those who lay indiscriminate mines," he stated.

Hegseth additionally derided Washington's allies in Europe for not becoming a member of the U.S.-Israeli battle. "We're not relying on Europe," he advised reporters. "However they want the Strait of Hormuz rather more than we do and would possibly wish to begin doing much less speaking and having much less fancy conferences in Europe and get in a ship."

"That is rather more their struggle than ours," he added.

A Pentagon evaluation shared in closed-door briefings with Congress signifies it may take as much as six months to totally clear Iranian-laid mines from the Strait of Hormuz, in response to a U.S. official who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren't licensed to talk publicly.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9c%2Fdb%2F1399dd3f4b608b81e9482cbf86a9%2Fgettyimages-2272294422.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9c%2Fdb%2F1399dd3f4b608b81e9482cbf86a9%2Fgettyimages-2272294422.jpg" class="img" alt="People sit on the beach with ships in the distance on April 24, 2026 in Kish Island, Iran." loading="lazy"/> Individuals sit on the seaside with ships within the distance on April 24, 2026 in Kish Island, Iran. Getty Photographs cover caption

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Getty Photographs The specter of being attacked within the strait has had an amazing impact on international delivery. Some vessels with hyperlinks to Iran made makes an attempt to maneuver via the strait, however others are staying away after Iran attacked three ships with gunfire earlier this week and seized two.

Round 20,000 seafarers have additionally been caught aboard their ships because the begin of the battle.

"There are a considerable variety of tanker shipowners that [are keeping] their vessels away from the Center East," Basil Karatzas, who heads the maritime consulting firm Karatzas Marine Advisors, advised NPR.

The disruption goes past oil. Helium, fertilizer and aluminum, that are all crucial components for trade and farming, have been held up within the Gulf, inflicting international shortages and driving up prices.

U.S. sanctions China-based oil refinery and companies and tankers accused of delivery Iran's oil The U.S. Treasury Division stated Friday it was imposing sanctions on an impartial oil refinery in China, Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co., Ltd., that it stated was serving to maintain Iran's oil economic system.

The Treasury additionally stated its Workplace of Overseas Belongings Management is concentrating on about 40 delivery companies and vessels that it stated are a part of a clandestine community of tankers, engaged on behalf of Tehran to bypass worldwide sanctions.

"At President Trump's route, Treasury will proceed to constrict the community of vessels, intermediaries, and consumers Iran depends on to maneuver its oil to international markets. Any individual or vessel facilitating these flows—via covert commerce and finance—dangers publicity to U.S. sanctions," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated in an announcement.

Individually, the Trump administration prolonged a waiver of the Jones Act, in an try to assist with home provides of gasoline and different refined oil merchandise.

The preliminary 60-day waiver of the act was meant to assist firms adapt to the worldwide disruption in oil provides attributable to the Iran battle. Specialists say it does make it simpler to ship fuels from U.S. refineries to U.S. clients, however the impact on fuel costs for customers is minimal.

Pope Leo urges U.S. and Iran to return to talks Pope Leo XIV known as on the USA and Iran to return to the negotiating desk Friday, calling for renewed talks to finish the battle.

Chatting with reporters aboard the papal aircraft after a visit to Africa, Leo urged leaders to undertake what he known as "a tradition of peace."

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8640x5760+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcd%2Ff2%2F567ebabf4e5ba501fd3884699626%2Fgettyimages-2272077746.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8640x5760+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcd%2Ff2%2F567ebabf4e5ba501fd3884699626%2Fgettyimages-2272077746.jpg" class="img" alt="Pope Leo XIV speaks to journalists aboard the papal flight from Malabo to Rome, on Thursday, at the end of his 11-day pastoral visit to Africa." loading="lazy"/> Pope Leo XIV speaks to journalists aboard the papal flight from Malabo to Rome, on Thursday, on the finish of his 11-day pastoral go to to Africa. Andrew Medichini/AFP through Getty Photographs cover caption

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Andrew Medichini/AFP through Getty Photographs He known as the negotiations between Iran and the USA "advanced," however urged all sides to stay dedicated to dialogue.

He stated he was carrying {a photograph} of a younger Muslim Lebanese boy killed in Israel's latest assaults in opposition to Hezbollah in Lebanon. The identical baby had been photographed holding an indication welcoming the pope throughout his go to to Lebanon final yr.

"When conflicts come up," Leo stated, "the query is how one can promote the values we consider in with out the deaths of so many innocents."

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F25%2F75%2F79e4013b48fbb45f47499c519e09%2Fgettyimages-2272243993.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F25%2F75%2F79e4013b48fbb45f47499c519e09%2Fgettyimages-2272243993.jpg" class="img" alt="Resident Mohamad Ali Hijazi holds his damaged family photo album amid the rubble of destroyed buildings at a residential area in Tyre on April 23, 2026." loading="lazy"/> Resident Mohamad Ali Hijazi holds his broken household picture album amid the rubble of destroyed buildings at a residential space in Tyre on April 23, 2026. AFP through Getty Photographs cover caption