Pakistan has pledged full cooperation and support to the United States and Iran to help achieve a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir held a meeting in Islamabad ahead of planned peace talks. The meeting reviewed progress in Pakistan’s mediation efforts and emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and ceasefire by all parties.

According to a government statement released on Thursday, both leaders praised the restraint shown by the United States and Iran and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to assist both sides in reaching a peaceful settlement through dialogue. The statement highlighted Islamabad’s continuing role as a mediator in the region.

The meeting took place just before Pakistan was set to host delegations from the United States and Iran following the announcement of a temporary ceasefire brokered by Islamabad.

Iran has set a new condition allowing no more than 15 ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day. The restriction is part of a 10-point proposal Iran sent to the United States, according to Russia’s state news agency TASS. The report said Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire with the US on the condition that daily ship movements remain under this limit and that all vessel activity be subject to Iranian authorization and regulation.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will oversee and monitor maritime traffic under the new rules. Iran has also informed other Gulf nations about the restriction. A senior Iranian official told TASS that all foreign commercial vessels must now comply with Iranian approval and a specific protocol for passage. The official added that the decision has been formally communicated to regional parties and that returning to pre-war conditions is no longer possible.

The move signals Iran’s intent to maintain strict control over maritime routes during the ceasefire period, emphasizing its strategic leverage in the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a warning to Iran over its activities in the Strait of Hormuz. In a social media post on April 10, 2026, he accused Iran of behaving 'very badly' regarding the passage of oil tankers, saying such actions violate existing agreements. Trump claimed that Iran was reportedly charging fees from tankers passing through the strait and urged Tehran to stop immediately.

His remarks have heightened tensions just two days after a ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect. Earlier, Trump had announced that if Iran fully, immediately, and safely reopened the Strait of Hormuz, the United States would suspend military operations for two weeks.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supply, has not yet returned to normal operations. Since the conflict began on February 28, shipping through the area has remained limited, raising concerns about stability in the region.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif called Israel a “devil” and a “curse for humanity” in a post on social media platform X, accusing it of continuing to kill civilians in Lebanon despite ongoing ceasefire discussions. He alleged that Israel was committing genocide in Lebanon following its actions in Gaza and Iran, and said those who created Israel on Palestinian land should “burn in hell.”

In response, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Asif’s comments, describing them as a call for Israel’s destruction. The statement said such remarks were intolerable, particularly from a government that claims to act as a neutral mediator for peace.

The exchange comes as Israel continues airstrikes in Lebanon despite diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan to broker a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Lebanese authorities reported intensified Israeli attacks since Wednesday, killing at least 303 people and injuring 1,150, while the health ministry said 1,888 have been killed and 6,092 injured since March 2.

South Korea has decided to send a new special envoy to Tehran to safeguard its citizens and commercial vessels amid the ongoing Iran-Israel war. The decision was confirmed by South Korea’s official news agency Yonhap. Former ambassador to Kuwait, Chung Byung-ha, has been appointed to the post and is expected to depart for Tehran soon.

According to Yonhap, Chung’s primary responsibility will be to coordinate the safe passage of South Korean ships and ensure the security of nationals in the Middle East during the conflict. He will particularly focus on resolving issues related to South Korean commercial ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. The appointment came a day after a phone conversation between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s key energy supply routes, has seen severe disruption due to the Iran–United States–Israel conflict. Yonhap reported that at least 26 South Korea-linked commercial vessels are currently stranded there, posing a major challenge for the new envoy.

U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Iran of acting in violation of existing international agreements by imposing fees on tankers passing through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump warned that Iran should immediately stop collecting such fees if reports are accurate. The Strait of Hormuz is a key global energy route, carrying about 20 percent of the world’s oil and LNG shipments.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to begin direct talks with Lebanon aimed at disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations. The U.S. State Department is expected to host a meeting in Washington next week to discuss a possible ceasefire. However, Netanyahu told northern Israeli residents that no ceasefire is currently in effect.

Recent Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have caused heavy casualties, with the Lebanese Health Ministry reporting at least 303 deaths and 1,150 injuries. The World Health Organization warned that evacuation orders in southern Beirut threaten hospitals treating hundreds of patients, calling the situation nearly impossible to manage.

More than 60 countries have jointly condemned recent Israeli attacks on United Nations peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon. The coordinated statement, initiated by Indonesia, described the assaults as unacceptable and called for immediate measures to ensure the safety of peacekeeping personnel. The joint declaration followed a series of incidents that left peacekeepers from France, Ghana, Indonesia, Nepal, and Poland injured.

The coalition of nations also expressed deep concern over Lebanon’s worsening humanitarian situation, citing widespread civilian casualties, infrastructure destruction, and the displacement of over one million people. The United Nations reported that preliminary findings indicated one peacekeeper was killed by Israeli tank fire on March 29, while two others died the following day from an explosive device that the UN assessed was likely planted by Hezbollah.

The statement urged all parties involved to respect international law and take immediate steps to protect UN personnel operating in the conflict zone.

Iran and the United States agreed to a temporary ceasefire late Tuesday, 39 days after their conflict began, with Pakistan mediating the deal. A key goal was reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, but Iran has kept it closed after Israel, backed by the U.S., continued attacks in Lebanon. Tehran has instead released an alternative shipping route to avoid mines and requires vessels to coordinate with its navy. Iranian officials insist the strait’s reopening depends on U.S. restraint and regional stability.

Disagreement persists over whether Lebanon is covered by the ceasefire. Israel’s airstrikes in Lebanon have killed at least 303 people and injured over 1,165, prompting condemnation from Lebanese and Iranian leaders. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that continued Israeli attacks would render talks meaningless, while Hezbollah retaliated with rocket fire into northern Israel. U.S. and Iranian delegations are set to meet in Islamabad on Saturday to discuss the truce.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard imposed a one-dollar-per-barrel toll on oil shipments through Hormuz, payable in cryptocurrency or Chinese yuan, during the ceasefire period. The situation remains tense as both sides prepare for further negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said it would be “dumb” for the United States to let Israel jeopardize the regional ceasefire by continuing its attacks on Lebanon, which have killed hundreds since the truce began. Araghchi linked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions to his upcoming corruption trial, suggesting the Israeli leader has personal motives for prolonging the conflict. He warned that if Washington allows Netanyahu to “kill diplomacy,” it would harm the US economy, adding that Tehran is prepared for such an outcome.

The dispute over whether Lebanon is covered by the ceasefire has become a major threat to the truce’s survival. Iranian officials and media have hinted at possible military responses or even blocking the Strait of Hormuz if the ceasefire is not enforced in Lebanon. Meanwhile, US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have urged restraint, and former President Donald Trump said he told Israel to scale back operations.

Despite these calls, Israeli strikes have intensified, killing more than 300 people in Lebanon, including rescuers in Borj Qalaouiye, and prompting displacement orders in Beirut’s Jnah area.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that his government is ready to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon, following Israeli airstrikes that killed more than 300 people across Lebanon a day earlier. Netanyahu said the talks would focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between the two countries. The announcement came amid escalating violence that has endangered a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said he was pursuing a diplomatic track viewed positively by international actors, while Lebanon’s cabinet ordered security forces to restrict weapons in Beirut to state institutions. Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad rejected direct talks with Israel, insisting that a ceasefire and Israeli troop withdrawal must precede any negotiations. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported at least 303 deaths and over 1,000 injuries from Israeli strikes, prompting a national day of mourning.

The ongoing conflict, which began on March 2, has displaced more than 1.2 million people, according to the United Nations. Iran has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire, while the US maintains Lebanon is not covered by the truce. Delegations from the US and Iran are expected to meet in Islamabad on Saturday to discuss ending the war.

Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, declared a “final victory” in the war with Israel and the United States, as a fragile ceasefire faces renewed strain from Israeli attacks on Lebanon. In a televised statement marking 40 days since the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a US-Israeli strike, Khamenei said Iran had “astonished the world” during the conflict. He emphasized that Tehran was not seeking war but defending its legitimate rights, vowing to punish those responsible for attacks on Iran and to seek compensation for damages and casualties.

The statement came a day after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire mediated by Pakistan, aimed at opening negotiations following weeks of hostilities that disrupted Gulf shipping and nearly closed the Strait of Hormuz. Under the deal, Iran allowed shipping to resume through the strait, reportedly with plans to impose tolls to fund reconstruction.

However, Israeli air strikes in Lebanon that killed more than 300 people have cast doubt on the truce, as the parties dispute whether Lebanon was included in the agreement. Delegations from Iran and the US are expected to meet in Pakistan on Saturday for talks on ending the war.

Saudi Arabia has suspended operations at several energy facilities following recent attacks that targeted oil, gas, and electricity sites in Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and Yanbu Industrial City, according to the Saudi Press Agency citing the Ministry of Energy. The attacks resulted in the death of one Saudi industrial security worker and injuries to seven others. The disruption has reduced the kingdom’s oil production capacity by about 600,000 barrels per day.

The Saudi Press Agency reported that the attacks were part of a series of drone and missile strikes launched by Iran against Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar. These assaults have occurred in response to the US and Israeli war on Iran that began on February 28. The Ministry of Energy warned that continued attacks could further reduce supply, slow recovery, and heighten volatility in global oil markets.

Oil prices rose on Wednesday amid uncertainty over a fragile Iran-US ceasefire and the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had blocked during the conflict. The truce remains uncertain due to ongoing hostilities involving Israel, Lebanon, and Iran.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank Group (WBG), and World Food Programme (WFP) issued a joint statement warning that the ongoing war in the Middle East poses a serious threat to global energy markets, food security, and economic growth. The statement, released on Wednesday, said the conflict has already caused one of the largest energy disruptions in modern history, driving up prices of oil, gas, and fertilizer, and disrupting transport systems. These effects are expected to worsen food insecurity and raise prices worldwide.

The organizations cautioned that the heaviest burden will fall on low-income, import-dependent countries with limited fiscal capacity to respond. Rising energy and food prices could further strain economies already struggling with debt, reducing governments’ ability to protect vulnerable households. The IMF, WBG, and WFP said they are closely monitoring the situation and will coordinate all available tools to support affected countries and communities.

The conflict escalated after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, prompting retaliatory strikes by Iran. A two-week ceasefire agreement reached last Tuesday has brought some relief globally.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev described the Strait of Hormuz as Iran’s strategic “nuclear weapon,” according to Anadolu. In a statement on social media platform X on Wednesday, he said that while it remains unclear how the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran will be implemented, Iran holds a powerful strategic element—the Strait of Hormuz—with immense potential.

Analysts clarified that Medvedev’s remark was metaphorical, not a reference to an actual nuclear weapon. The phrase highlights Iran’s geopolitical leverage and the strait’s critical role in global energy supply. The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital oil transit routes, has long been a focal point of Middle Eastern tensions.

The comment came as US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, noting that Tehran had presented a ten-point proposal for negotiations. The United States had been pressing Iran to reopen the strait following heightened tensions and reciprocal attacks involving Iran, the US, and Israel.

Israel reopened the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem to Palestinian worshippers after a 40-day closure. Verified footage from Al Jazeera showed thousands of Palestinians entering the mosque gates early Thursday, with around three thousand attending the dawn prayer. The reopening followed a period of restrictions imposed after the outbreak of war between Iran and the US-Israel alliance on February 28, which had limited or halted access to holy sites for Christians, Jews, and Muslims.

The Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem confirmed that all mosque gates were reopened for worshippers from dawn. The Jordan-linked religious authority responsible for managing the site did not provide further details. Earlier footage showed volunteers cleaning and preparing the prayer areas to welcome worshippers.

Israeli authorities announced the reopening of both Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Wednesday evening, citing updated guidance from the Israeli Home Front Command. Hundreds of police and border guards were deployed across Jerusalem’s Old City to ensure visitor safety.