US Iran war LIVE Highlights: Araghchi to visit Islamabad for possible second round of US talks, says Pakistan
Updated on: Apr 29, 2026 7:00:57 AM IST
US Iran war Highlights: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends the talks with Russian President at the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Library in Saint Petersburg on April 27, 2026.
US Iran war Highlights: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Friday night for a possible second round of peace talks with the United States, officials familiar with the matter said. Iran said Tuesday the United States can no longer âdictateâ actions to other nations, as Washington considers Tehranâs new proposal to end the West Asia war. Defence ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik said the US must accept abandoning its âillegal and irrational demands,â according to state television.
Amid rising tensions between the US and Iran, AntĂłnio Guterres warned that maritime security threats now affect every coastline and nation, even landlocked ones. He said growing global divisions are eroding trust, challenging international law, and putting the foundations of collective security under severe strain.
The United States Central Command said the guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta intercepted the tanker M/T Stream on Sunday, preventing it from reaching its destination. The vessel was stopped after it attempted to sail toward an Iranian port, according to the statement.
Oil prices rise
Oil prices edged higher as traders weighed prospects for peace talks in the Iran conflict, with the US reviewing Tehranâs proposal while the Strait of Hormuz remained largely impassable. Brent crude hovered near $109 a barrel after a 2.8% rise, reported Bloomberg.
Also Read | Amid US-UK tensions, King Charles to meet Trump ‘off-camera’, fearing a Zelensky-like clash
Earlier, A superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the few vessels to pass the blockaded route amid the US-Iran conflict, shipping data showed.
The 142-metre yacht Nord, valued at over $500 million, departed a Dubai marina around 1400 GMT on Friday, crossed the strait on Saturday morning, and reached Muscat early Sunday, according to MarineTraffic data.
It remains unclear how the luxury vessel secured permission to transit the route. Since February, Iran has heavily restricted movement through the strait, a crucial global chokepoint that typically carries about one-fifth of the worldâs oil supply. The rare passage underscores the tight controls in place and highlights the ongoing disruption to one of the worldâs most vital shipping lanes.
White House reviewing Iran proposal
The White House said US officials are reviewing Iranâs latest proposal but reiterated firm red lines, including preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
According to two regional officials, Iran has offered to ease its control over the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the US lifting its blockade and ending the conflict, while deferring discussions on its nuclear programme.
However, US President Donald Trump is unlikely to accept the proposal, which was conveyed through Pakistan and leaves key disputes unresolved â issues that led to the US and Israel launching military action on February 28, the AP reported.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump held a meeting with national security officials earlier in the day to assess the offer.
Also Read | Saudi Arabia could help end the Iran war, but will the US listen?
âHis red lines with respect to Iran have been made very, very clear,â she said, adding that the president would address the issue âvery soon.â
Araghchi meets Putin
Iranâs foreign minister Abbas Araghchi met Russian President Vladimir Putin as negotiations with the US to end the eight-week war remain stalled. Araghchi said he was coordinating with Russian officials after the US-Israeli military campaign disrupted bilateral talks, according to a foreign ministry statement. Iran’s foreign minister’s trip to Russia comes after a report emerged that Tehran was signaling willingness to accept an interim deal with the US whereby Iran reopens the Hormuz in exchange for Washington ending its blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran’s oil production beginning to stall, says US
Amid ongoing efforts to end the war, the United States is intensifying pressure on Iran to accept its proposal. On Monday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the American blockade on Iranian ports is severely impacting the countryâs oil sector, pushing it toward a potential shutdown.
In a post on X, Bessent claimed Iranâs oil production is beginning to stall under mounting pressure, warning that output could soon collapse entirely. He also suggested that fuel shortages may follow if the situation continues to worsen.
Using strong language, Bessent said remaining leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are increasingly constrained, comparing their position to being trapped. His remarks underscore Washingtonâs strategy of using economic and logistical pressure to force concessions, even as diplomatic talks remain deadlocked and prospects for a resolution appear uncertain.
…Read More
Amid rising tensions between the US and Iran, AntĂłnio Guterres warned that maritime security threats now affect every coastline and nation, even landlocked ones. He said growing global divisions are eroding trust, challenging international law, and putting the foundations of collective security under severe strain.
The United States Central Command said the guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta intercepted the tanker M/T Stream on Sunday, preventing it from reaching its destination. The vessel was stopped after it attempted to sail toward an Iranian port, according to the statement.
Oil prices rise
Oil prices edged higher as traders weighed prospects for peace talks in the Iran conflict, with the US reviewing Tehranâs proposal while the Strait of Hormuz remained largely impassable. Brent crude hovered near $109 a barrel after a 2.8% rise, reported Bloomberg.
Also Read | Amid US-UK tensions, King Charles to meet Trump ‘off-camera’, fearing a Zelensky-like clash
Earlier, A superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the few vessels to pass the blockaded route amid the US-Iran conflict, shipping data showed.
The 142-metre yacht Nord, valued at over $500 million, departed a Dubai marina around 1400 GMT on Friday, crossed the strait on Saturday morning, and reached Muscat early Sunday, according to MarineTraffic data.
It remains unclear how the luxury vessel secured permission to transit the route. Since February, Iran has heavily restricted movement through the strait, a crucial global chokepoint that typically carries about one-fifth of the worldâs oil supply. The rare passage underscores the tight controls in place and highlights the ongoing disruption to one of the worldâs most vital shipping lanes.
White House reviewing Iran proposal
The White House said US officials are reviewing Iranâs latest proposal but reiterated firm red lines, including preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
According to two regional officials, Iran has offered to ease its control over the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the US lifting its blockade and ending the conflict, while deferring discussions on its nuclear programme.
However, US President Donald Trump is unlikely to accept the proposal, which was conveyed through Pakistan and leaves key disputes unresolved â issues that led to the US and Israel launching military action on February 28, the AP reported.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump held a meeting with national security officials earlier in the day to assess the offer.
Also Read | Saudi Arabia could help end the Iran war, but will the US listen?
âHis red lines with respect to Iran have been made very, very clear,â she said, adding that the president would address the issue âvery soon.â
Araghchi meets Putin
Iranâs foreign minister Abbas Araghchi met Russian President Vladimir Putin as negotiations with the US to end the eight-week war remain stalled. Araghchi said he was coordinating with Russian officials after the US-Israeli military campaign disrupted bilateral talks, according to a foreign ministry statement. Iran’s foreign minister’s trip to Russia comes after a report emerged that Tehran was signaling willingness to accept an interim deal with the US whereby Iran reopens the Hormuz in exchange for Washington ending its blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran’s oil production beginning to stall, says US
Amid ongoing efforts to end the war, the United States is intensifying pressure on Iran to accept its proposal. On Monday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the American blockade on Iranian ports is severely impacting the countryâs oil sector, pushing it toward a potential shutdown.
In a post on X, Bessent claimed Iranâs oil production is beginning to stall under mounting pressure, warning that output could soon collapse entirely. He also suggested that fuel shortages may follow if the situation continues to worsen.
Using strong language, Bessent said remaining leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are increasingly constrained, comparing their position to being trapped. His remarks underscore Washingtonâs strategy of using economic and logistical pressure to force concessions, even as diplomatic talks remain deadlocked and prospects for a resolution appear uncertain.
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Apr 29, 2026 7:00:57 AM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Updates end for this live blog
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Apr 29, 2026 6:21:12 AM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Protracted Iran War Risks Pushing UK Into Recession, NIESR Says
US Iran war news LIVE updates: The UK could slip into recession later this year and be forced to hike interest rates aggressively to contain inflation if the Middle East crisis worsens, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research warned.
An adverse scenario where hostilities between the US and Iran resume and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed would deliver a significant hit to economic output and see inflation climb above 5%, the think tank said in a report published Wednesday. (Bloomberg)
Apr 29, 2026 4:56:14 AM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Iran war risks pushing UK into recession: Report
US Iran war news LIVE updates: The UK could slip into recession later this year and be forced to hike interest rates aggressively to contain inflation if the Middle East crisis worsens, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research warned.
An adverse scenario where hostilities between the US and Iran resume and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed would deliver a significant hit to economic output and see inflation climb above 5%, the think tank said in a report published Wednesday.
The model also assumes oil prices rise to $140 per barrel and stay high for years. In an effort to get inflation back to the 2% target, the Bank of England would have to raise interest rates by a total of 150 basis points by December, erasing all of the easing delivered over the past 21 months.
If the central bank balked, it would risk stoking knock-on effects on wages and prices, NIESR said.
âIn that case, we would expect to see much higher inflation, much longer,â said NIESR Deputy Director Stephen Millard.
via Bloomberg
Apr 29, 2026 3:24:06 AM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Israeli military contractor killed in southern Lebanon
US Iran war news LIVE updates: The brief statement by the Israeli army said the civilian employee of an engineering company was working with the military on projects in southern Lebanon. It said his family has been notified but didnât offer details on how he was killed Tuesday.
Despite a ceasefire in Lebanon, Israel forces and Hezbollah militants have been intermittently attacking each other in the south, where Israeli soldiers are occupying a slice of territory along the border.
via AP
Apr 29, 2026 1:18:21 AM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Lebanon PM dubs Israel’s attack on civil defense members as ânew war crimeâ
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Lebanon’s Prime Minister has said that Israel’s attack on civil defense members in southern Lebanon is a ânew war crimeâ, Reuters reported.
Apr 29, 2026 1:16:15 AM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Oil back above $110 amid stalemate over Iran proposal
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Oil rose to the highest level since just before a ceasefire deal between the US and Iran, as traders await Washingtonâs response to a proposal from Tehran to end the war and potentially reopen of the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude closed above $111 a barrel while West Texas Intermediate settled up 3.7% at just under $100 a barrel. US President Donald Trump said in a social media post that Iran wants the US to remove its naval blockade of the crucial shipping route and reopen it âas soon as possible.â The closure by both the US and Iran has choked off flows of crude, natural gas and oil products, driving up energy prices and raising concerns about inflation.
Earlier in the day, prices briefly pared gains after the United Arab Emirates announced a surprise decision to exit OPEC and its wider alliance, OPEC , as of May 1. Traders took the move as a signal the country would be able to ramp up output freely once the Iran conflict is over.
via Bloomberg
Apr 29, 2026 12:58:37 AM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: US forces board ship suspected of heading to Iran port
US Iran war news LIVE updates: US Marines on Tuesday boarded a commercial ship in the Arabian Sea that was suspected of trying to violate the American blockade of Iranian ports, the US military said.
The M/V Blue Star III was released by US forces “after conducting a search and confirming the ship’s voyage would not include an Iranian port call,” Central Command, which is responsible for American forces in the Middle East, said in a post on X.
“American forces continue to operate and enforce the blockade across the Middle East. So far, 39 vessels have been redirected to ensure compliance,” the military command added.
The post included a video clip showing a helicopter hovering over the vessel as Marines roped down onto shipping containers stacked on its deck.
via AFP
Apr 29, 2026 12:57:12 AM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Trump, unhappy with latest peace proposal, says Iran ‘figuring out its leadership’
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Efforts to end the Iran conflict were at an impasse on Tuesday with Trump unhappy with the latest proposal from Tehran, which he said had informed the US it was in a “state of collapse” and figuring out its leadership situation. Iran’s most recent offer for resolving the two-month war would set aside discussion of its nuclear programme until the conflict was concluded and shipping disputes resolved.
But Trump wants nuclear issues dealt with from the outset, a US official briefed on Trump’s Monday meeting with his advisers said. In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Trump said: “Iran has just informed us that they are in a ‘State of Collapse’. They want us to ‘Open the Hormuz Strait,’ as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation (Which I believe they will be able to do!).”
It was unclear from his post how Iran might have communicated that message and there was no immediate response from Tehran to Trump’s latest comments.
via Reuters
Apr 29, 2026 12:19:36 AM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: US imposes sanctions on 35 individuals, entities for aiding Iran’s sanctions evasions
US Iran war news LIVE updates: The U.S. government on Tuesday said it was imposing sanctions on 35 entities and individuals for their role in Iran’s shadow banking architecture, accusing them of facilitating the movement of tens of billions of dollars tied to sanctions evasion and Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism.
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control also warned any firm making “toll” payments to the Iranian government or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for passage through the Strait of Hormuz would face significant sanctions.
The Treasury Department said the sanctions announced on Tuesday were aimed at networks that allowed Iranâs armed forces, including the IRGC, to access the international financial system to receive payment for illicit oil sales, purchase sensitive components for missiles and other weapons systems, and transfer money to Iranâs proxies.
âIranâs shadow banking system serves as a critical financial lifeline for its armed forces, enabling activities that disrupt global trade and fuel violence across the Middle East,â Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.
“Illicit funds funneled through this network support the regimeâs ongoing terrorist operations, posing a direct threat to U.S. personnel, regional allies, and the global economy,” he said, adding any institution that facilitated or engaged with these networks was at risk of “severe consequences.â
via Reuters
Apr 28, 2026 11:33:03 PM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Iran’s Supreme Leader is “fine, in good situation”, says his Deputy Representative
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Dismissing “rumours” surrounding the health of the Supreme Leader of Iran, his Deputy Representative in India, Dr Mohammad Hossein Ziyaeenia, on Tuesday said that the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei is in “a good situation and fine”.
“The situation of our Supreme Leader, Hazrat Ayatollah Sayyid Mojtaba Khamenei, is, thanks to God, good. According to the communication that we had a couple of days ago, he is in a good situation, he’s fine,” Ziyaeenia said in an interview with ANI.
He noted that any speculation concerning his health is wrong. “All these rumours that his health is not in a good situation and he has some problems – these are not authentic, and he is fine,” Ziyaeenia added.
Apr 28, 2026 11:29:39 PM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Israeli army says finds huge Hezbollah tunnel network in Lebanon
US Iran war news LIVE updates: The Israeli military said on Tuesday it found and destroyed a large Hezbollah tunnel network used by elite fighters in south Lebanon, near Israel’s northern border.
Israel has been fighting Hezbollah since early March, sending troops into south Lebanon to battle the Iran-backed militant group after it launched rockets at Israeli territory, with the violence ongoing despite a shaky April 17 ceasefire.
Troops found “two Hezbollah terror tunnels, constructed over approximately a decade” that stretched for some two kilometres (1.2 miles) underground and were connected to firing positions directed at Israel, an army statement said.
Located in the Qantara area, troops used “over 450 tonnes of explosives” to demolish them, it said.
An Israeli military source described it as a “massive underground military installation” comprising an 800-metre tunnel and a second which ran for 1.2 kilometres, used as “an assembly area” for Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces.
via AFP
Apr 28, 2026 11:28:45 PM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Gold falls as Middle East tensions keep oil soaring
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Gold fell to a near four-week low on Tuesday, on peristent inflation concerns after U.S. President Donald Trump appeared dissatisfied with Iran’s latest proposal to end the war, while investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy meeting this week.
Spot gold dropped 1.7% to $4,600.61 per ounce, as of 1:42 p.m. EDT (1742 GMT), after hitting its lowest level since April 2 earlier.
U.S. gold futures settled 1.8% lower at $4,608.40.
via Reuters
Apr 28, 2026 10:43:56 PM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Trump approval dips to term low amid cost-of-living concerns, Iran war backlash
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Donald Trumpâs approval rating has fallen to its lowest level of his current term, with growing public dissatisfaction over rising living costs and an unpopular conflict with Iran, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
The four-day survey, completed Monday, found 34% of Americans approve of his performance, down from 36% in a previous poll conducted between April 15 and 20.
Apr 28, 2026 10:11:25 PM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Hezbollah claims drone strike on Israeli Merkava tank in south Lebanon
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Hezbollah said it carried out a drone strike targeting an Israeli Merkava tank in the town of Qantara in southern Lebanon. The group claimed the attack hit the tank, though there was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli side.
Apr 28, 2026 9:22:58 PM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Lebanon says Israeli strikes kill 2,534 since March 2
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Lebanonâs Health Ministry said at least 2,534 people have been killed and 7,863 injured in Israeli attacks since March 2, as the toll from the ongoing strikes continues to rise, Al Jazeera reported.
Apr 28, 2026 8:54:33 PM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: What is happening in the US-Iran war?
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Friday night for a possible second round of peace talks with the United States, officials familiar with the matter said.
Iran said Tuesday the United States can no longer âdictateâ actions to other nations, as Washington considers Tehranâs new proposal to end the West Asia war.
Defence ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik said the US must accept abandoning its âillegal and irrational demands,â according to state television.
Amid rising tensions between the US and Iran, AntĂłnio Guterres warned that maritime security threats now affect every coastline and nation, even landlocked ones.
He said growing global divisions are eroding trust, challenging international law, and putting the foundations of collective security under severe strain.
Apr 28, 2026 7:55:17 PM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Six Iranian airports resume operations; flights to expand in phases
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Iranâs state news agency IRNA reported that six airports across the country are now operational-Mehrabad, Mashhad, Shiraz, Zahedan, Gorgan and Urmia.
Flights from Kerman (Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani), Yazd and Birjand airports are expected to begin in the ânext phaseâ, citing the Iranian Airports and Air Navigation Company.
IRNA added that âthe provision of safe conditions in the countryâs airspace, domestic and international flights will gradually increase, and the eastern airspace of the country will also witness flights passing through Iranian skiesâ.
Apr 28, 2026 7:29:36 PM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Iran says war ongoing, updates military target list and objectives
US Iran war news LIVE updates: An Iranian army spokesperson said the conflict is still ongoing and cannot be considered over, adding that the situation continues to be treated as a state of war.
The spokesperson said the armed forces have updated their âbank of objectives and equipment,â indicating a revision of military targets and operational priorities.
Apr 28, 2026 7:03:45 PM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Trump says Iran wants Strait of Hormuz reopened âas soon as possibleâ
US Iran war news LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump said Iran is pushing for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened âas soon as possible”.
Apr 28, 2026 6:00:14 PM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: UAE exits OPEC, OPEC+, rattling oil alliance amid Iran conflict and supply fears
US Iran war news LIVE updates: The United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday it has exited OPEC, OPEC+, delivering a major setback to the oil-producing bloc and its de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, at a time when the Iran conflict has triggered a severe energy shock and unsettled the global economy.
The departure of the UAE, a longstanding member of OPEC, threatens to create instability within the group, which has typically maintained a united front despite internal tensions over geopolitics and production quotas.
Producers in the Gulf are already facing challenges in exporting crude through the Strait of Hormuz – a critical passageway that carries about a fifth of the worldâs oil and liquefied natural gas – amid rising Iranian threats and attacks on vessels.
Apr 28, 2026 5:12:26 PM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Qatar warns against âfrozen conflictâ as US-Iran talks stall
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Qatar has cautioned against the risk of a prolonged âfrozen conflictâ in the Gulf as talks between the United States and Iran appeared to reach an impasse.
âWe do not want to see a return to hostilities in the region anytime soon, we do not want to see a frozen conflict that ends up being thawed every time there is a political reason,â said foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari.
Apr 28, 2026 4:45:54 PM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Oil jumps as Hormuz stalemate persists; markets mixed on rates
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Oil prices surged Tuesday amid a lack of progress on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while global stocks showed a mixed performance as focus shifted back to interest rate expectations and corporate earnings.
The White House declined to say whether Donald Trump is inclined to accept Iranâs latest proposals to end the two-month conflict and restore access through the key shipping route.
Crude rallied more than two percent, with Brent crude holding above $110 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate trading just below $100.
Apr 28, 2026 4:23:36 PM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Iran’s Araghchi to visit Islamabad for possible second round of US talks, says Pakistan
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Friday night for a possible second round of peace talks with the United States, says Pakistan, according to a report by Bloomberg.
A US logistics and security team is already in Islamabad to prepare for the discussions, the officials said, requesting anonymity as the talks are not public. While a second round of negotiations is anticipated, no timeline has been confirmed.
The US and Iran had earlier planned to hold talks in the Pakistani capital this week. However, Donald Trump called off plans to send Vice President JD Vance to Islamabad on Tuesday after extending a ceasefire with Iran indefinitely.
Apr 28, 2026 4:07:25 PM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Five sentenced to life in Bahrain over Iran-linked âterroristâ plot
US Iran war news LIVE updates: Five people have been sentenced to life imprisonment in Bahrain for plotting âterroristâ acts in coordination with Iran, prosecutors said, AFP reported.
Apr 28, 2026 3:40:11 PM IST
US Iran war news LIVE updates: LNG tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz for first time since conflict disruption
US Iran war news LIVE updates: A ship fully loaded with liquefied natural gas has passed through the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the Middle East conflict effectively shut the route in early March, according to Kpler, AFP reported.
The LNG carrier Mubaraz, operated by ADNOC, departed the Gulf in April carrying 132,890 cubic metres of LNG. It had loaded the cargo at Das Island in the United Arab Emirates on March 2, the report added.
The vessel switched off its AIS transponder at the end of March for about a month, before resuming transmission off the coast of India on Monday.