Kumar Bahukhandi
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sits down with Senior Omani Diplomat, Najib Bin Yahya Al Balushi on the day of a meeting, in a location given as Muscat, Oman, in this picture released April 25, 2026. – Photo Credit: Reuters
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks in Oman, discussed security in the Strait of Hormuz, broader Gulf waters, and diplomatic efforts to end the Iran-U.S. conflict, according to Iran Foreign Ministry statement
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and discussed the evolving regional situation.
“During their warm and cordial conversation that lasted fifty minutes, the two leaders had a detailed exchange of views on the current regional situation and ongoing efforts to promote peace and stability in the region,” the Prime Minister’s office said.
Attempts at ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran fell flat after Tehran’s top diplomat left Pakistan and President Donald Trump’s envoys stayed away after he told them not to travel to Islamabad. Donald Trump said there was no point “sitting around talking about nothing” but adding the war would not immediately resume.
The U.S. naval forces intercepted an Iran-linked vessel in the Arabian Sea on Saturday April 25, 2026, said the U.S. Central Command. Taking to The Department of Treasury has sanctioned M/V Sevan and 18 other “shadow fleet” vessels “for activities related to transporting billions of dollars worth of Iranian energy, oil and gas products, including propane and butane, to foreign markets”.
Live Updates
April 26, 2026 19:50
Iran FM back in Pakistan after Oman visit: state media
Iran’s top diplomat returned to Pakistan on Sunday following a brief visit to Oman, State media reported, having just left Islamabad the day before.
Iran’s official IRNA news agency said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had arrived during the early evening in Pakistan, which has served as a mediator in diplomatic efforts to end the West Asia war.
– AFP
April 26, 2026 19:48
Pakistan eases restrictions on twin cities with no possibility of U.S.-Iran talks
Pakistan on Sunday April 26, 2026 eased some restrictions, allowing selective movement of heavy traffic in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, as there was no immediate possibility of another round of U.S.-Iran talks.
Pakistan had implemented strict security measures in anticipation of the second round of talks between the U.S. and Iran. More than 10,000 security personnel were deployed, and both Islamabad and Rawalpindi were shut down to manage heavy traffic since last Sunday.
The easing of restrictions came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Islamabad on Saturday April 25 , 2026 night without waiting for the arrival of the U.S. negotiators. As he flew out, President Donald Trump cancelled his plans to send U.S. negotiators to Pakistan.
– PTI
April 26, 2026 19:47
U.S.-Iran mediation moving ahead after Trump holds back envoys: Pakistan
U.S. President Donald Trump said he told his top envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, not to travel to Pakistan to negotiate with Iran on Saturday.
“If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!” Trump said on social media.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country won’t negotiate while the United States imposes a blockade on its ports. Pezeshkian told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a phone call Saturday night that the U.S. “should first remove operational obstacles, including the blockade,” to allow a new round of negotiations, according to the ISNA and Tasnim news agencies in Iran.
Pakistan’s top political and military leadership is continuing to mediate between the U.S. and Iran, with indirect ceasefire talks still alive despite mounting tensions between the sides, two Pakistani officials said Sunday April 26, 2026 .
– AP
April 26, 2026 19:41
Iran’s Araghchi discusses efforts to end war and Hormuz security with Oman
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks in Oman on Sunday and discussed security in the Strait of Hormuz and broader Gulf waters and diplomatic efforts to end the Iran-U.S. conflict, according to an Iranian Foreign Ministry statement.
In talks in Muscat with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, Arahgchi said the U.S. military presence in West Asia was fuelling insecurity and division and called for a regional security framework free of outside interference
– Reuters
April 26, 2026 16:05
Iran Foreign Minister expected back in Pakistan despite U.S. cancellation
Iran’s Foreign Minister was due to return to Pakistan today as international mediators try to keep peace talks on track despite U.S. President Donald Trump calling off his envoys’ planned trip.
According to the Iranian news agency ISNA, Abbas Araghchi would again meet Pakistani officials to convey “Iran’s positions and views on the framework of any understanding to completely end the war”.
The Minister had been in Islamabad only the day before, after which he travelled to Oman, while other Iranian envoys had headed back to Tehran “to consult and obtain the necessary instructions on issues related to ending the war”, according to ISNA.
– AFP
April 26, 2026 15:58
Israeli military issues evacuation warning for seven Lebanese towns north of Litani river
Israel’s military issued an evacuation warning to residents of seven towns north of Litani river, saying it would act forcefully against Hezbollah over ceasefire violations.
– Reuters
April 26, 2026 13:44
Life returns to normal in Islamabad
Life began returning to normal in Pakistan’s capital on Sunday April 26, 2026 morning.
Authorities in Islamabad eased near-lockdown measures imposed during a week of heightened security prior to planned ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran.
The restrictions enforced across Islamabad and the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi disrupted daily life for hundreds of thousands. Commuters were forced to make long detours, traffic thinned along major arteries and parents struggled to reach schools.
Commuters ride along a street near the Serena Hotel, that hosted the first round of U.S.-Iran peace talks during the West Asia war, after authorities reopened the Red Zone area in Islamabad on April 26, 2026. – Photo Credit: AFP
By Sunday April 26, 2026, barriers were being lifted and traffic was gradually building on the city’s main roads. Residents described a sense of relief after days of gridlock and uncertainty.
The government said in a social media post late on Saturday April 25, 2026 that tourist destinations, parks and bus terminals were being reopened.
Security remained tight around the heavily guarded Red Zone, home to key government buildings and the site where U.S.-Iran talks were held earlier this month.
– AP
April 26, 2026 12:53
Oman’s Sultan met Iran’s Araghchi to discuss regional situation, state news agency says
The Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said has met Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Muscat, where both sides discussed the regional situation and mediation efforts aimed at ending the Iran war, Oman’s state news agency reported on April 26, 2026.
- Reuters
April 26, 2026 10:46
Iran executes man linked to militant group, reports Tasnim
Iran executed a man convicted of being a member of the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl and carrying out attacks on Iranian security forces, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported today.
Authorities identified the man as Amer Ramesh, saying he had been arrested in a counter-terrorism operation in southeastern Iran and charged with armed rebellion, including being involved in bombings and ambushes targeting military personnel.
Jaish al-Adl is an extremist Sunni Muslim militant group active in Iran’s poorest region, Sistan-Baluchestan.
- Reuters
April 26, 2026 10:42
Pakistan PM Shehbaz dials Iranian President, discusses evolving regional situation
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and discussed the evolving regional situation.
During the telephonic conversation on Saturday April 25, 2026 evening, which coincided with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to Islamabad, PM Shehbaz expressed his commitment to serve as a “sincere and honest” facilitator in promoting lasting peace in the region, according to his office.
“During their warm and cordial conversation that lasted fifty minutes, the two leaders had a detailed exchange of views on the current regional situation and ongoing efforts to promote peace and stability in the region,” the Prime Minister’s office said.
Pakistan PM dials Iranian President, discusses evolving regional situation
Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif and Iran’s President Pezeshkian discuss regional stability and peace efforts in a 50-minute call.
April 26, 2026 09:45
Trump says shooting won’t ‘deter’ him from Iran war
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday April 25, 2026 a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner would not deter him from the Iran war, although he believed the incident was unlikely linked to the conflict.
“It’s not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, I really don’t think so, based on what we know,” Donald Trump told reporters in a briefing at the White House after the shocking security incident.
Donald Trump says shooting won’t ‘deter’ him from Iran war
Donald Trump asserts that a shooting incident won’t deter his commitment to the Iran war, despite canceling peace talks.
April 26, 2026 08:52
Rules that govern international waters | Explained
What rules govern international waters?
Explore the legal complexities of international waters, the Strait of Hormuz, and the implications of recent maritime conflicts.
April 26, 2026 08:11
Shipping crisis exposes gaps in India’s maritime strategy
The war in West Asia has thrown the focus on Indian shipping and the criticality of the Persian Gulf region to India’s trade.
Shipping crisis exposes gaps in India’s maritime strategy
India’s shipping crisis reveals urgent gaps in maritime strategy, emphasizing the need for a stronger national fleet and improved contracts.
April 26, 2026 07:46
U.S. Navy intercepts Iran-linked vessel in Arabian Sea
The U.S. naval forces intercepted an Iran-linked vessel in the Arabian Sea on Saturday April 25, 2026, said the U.S. Central Command.
Taking to X, it said that the U.S. Department of Treasury has sanctioned M/V Sevan and 18 other “shadow fleet” vessels “for for activities related to transporting billions of dollars worth of Iranian energy, oil and gas products, including propane and butane, to foreign markets”.
U.S. Navy intercepts Iran-linked vessel in Arabian Sea
U.S. naval forces intercepted an Iran-linked vessel in the Arabian Sea, enforcing sanctions on Iranian energy transport activities.
April 26, 2026 07:45
Trump says Iran presented new offers 10 minutes after he cancelled U.S. team’s trip
Amid the stalled negotiations with Iran, US President Donald Trump said the Iranians sent over a new peace proposal, but that it “could have been better,” and rejected it.
“They gave us a paper that could have been better, and interestingly, immediately when I cancelled it, within 10 minutes we got a new paper that was much better,” Donald Trump said to reporters on Saturday before boarding Air Force One to return to Washington from Florida.
- AP
April 26, 2026 07:21
Trump says canceled envoys’ Pakistan trip, but Iran war not resuming
U.S. President Donald Trump announced he had canceled his envoys’ planned trip to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran on Saturday April 25, 2026 but said that did not mean an immediate resumption of the U.S.-Israeli war against the Islamic country.
Shortly before the announcement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrapped up his own diplomatic visit to Islamabad after meeting with Pakistani military chief Asim Munir, a key figure in the mediation effort, as well as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
Trump says canceled envoys’ Pakistan trip, but war not resuming
Trump cancels envoys’ Pakistan trip for Iran talks, but insists it doesn’t signal a return to war.
