War breaking news. Iran, Araghchi meets Putin: 'Excellent basis for cooperation between Tehran and Moscow'

After months of under-the-table negotiations and ego battles, the Israeli opposition takes the first step towards a compact to try to defeat Benjamin Netanyahu, the longest-serving premier in the country's history. Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid relaunched on Sunday the "brothers' pact", tested as early as 2021 with the rotating government that saw them both prime minister of the most heterogeneous coalition Israel had ever seen: from the liberal left, to the nationalist right, passing through an Arab party. An experiment that lasted little more than a year due to the fragility of the alliance. Bennett, who had since taken a break from political life, and the centrist Lapid, now the leader of the opposition in free fall in the polls, announced a joint list, 'Yachad' (together), in view of the elections to be held on 27 October at the latest. The attempt is to revolt to the Likud electorate, putting at the head of the formation Bennett, a former hi-tech entrepreneur, religious liberal, who when he took the field in 2013 outspent Netanyahu to the right on security and territorial concessions. "To the coalition voters who do not accept the degeneration of this government I say: this is your home. I am right-wing, a liberal right-wing, and I am in charge,' Bennett told a press conference, trying to position himself as the Israeli Magyar. "Today we put ego aside for the sake of the State of Israel," Lapid added. The barb is aimed at Gadi Eizenkot, also from centrist positions, a former chief of staff, a son killed during the war in Gaza, who for now has declined the invitation to put his estimated 15 seats towards the new alliance. The cold drop came the day after the announcement: in the polls, the 'brothers' pact' is still second to the Netanyahu-led Likud, which strengthens by one point (28 seats). With Eizenkot instead, the list would exceed 40 seats, winning the mandate to form the next government. However, the polls for more than a year have made Betzalel Smotrich, the most extremist wing of the current government, disappear from the political map, far from the 3.25% threshold. This means that the institutional stalemate that accompanied the five electoral rounds between 2019 and 2022 could repeat itself: even if the factors are reversed, the result remains unchanged, and none of the opposing parties would be able to form a stable majority. In the background, the biggest unknown remains: whether Netanyahu will step aside, in exchange for some form of amnesty in the trials in which he is a defendant - whose hearings are resuming today for the first time since the start of the war with Iran: the New York Times reports that President Herzog is about to relaunch a civil mediation outside the courtroom. Or, if the "newfound brothers" Bennett and Lapid (and Eizenkot) will be willing to swallow the biggest toad: renouncing the veto on the current premier in order to form a government of broad understandings, marginalising the most extreme fringes and setting aside an internal polarisation that is tearing apart Israeli civil society, already exhausted by three years of wars that have not yet ended.

"I have officially summoned the Israeli ambassador to Kiev. Tomorrow morning we will present our protest note and demand appropriate measures". This was stated on X Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, regarding the Israeli purchase of Ukrainian grain stolen by Russian soldiers in the occupied territories. "It is difficult to understand Israel's lack of an adequate response to Ukraine's legitimate request regarding the previous ship that delivered stolen goods to Haifa," Sybiha said in reference to the Abinsk, a Russian-flagged bulk carrier that entered the Jewish state a fortnight ago. "Now that another such vessel has arrived in Haifa, we warn Israel not to accept the stolen grain, so as not to jeopardise friendly relations between our countries," the Kiev foreign minister concluded in reference to the Panormitis ship.

Donald Trump met with his national security team this morning. This was said by White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, reporting that the meeting discussed the Iranian proposal for a reciprocal reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, postponing discussions on the nuclear issue to a later stage of negotiations. However, Leavitt said, 'the insurmountable lines' indicated by Trump regarding Iran were expressed 'very clearly'.

US Vice President Jd Vance is reported to have privately expressed misgivings about the Pentagon's portrayal of the conflict with Iran, in particular its assurances regarding the robustness of the US military stockpile. According to administration sources quoted by The Atlantic, Vance fears that key munitions - including missile systems and interceptors - are rapidly running out, possibly affecting the US ability to deal with other strategic scenarios, from the defence of Taiwan to security in Europe and Asia. A line - that of Donald Trump's deputy - that contrasts with that of Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and the military leadership, which continues to publicly describe the stockpile as 'robust' and the campaign against Iran as a significant success. However, internal assessments quoted by informed sources indicate that Tehran would still retain most of its military capabilities, while US forces have already deployed a significant share of strategic weaponry. While avoiding making the issue 'personal' or directly accusing of misleading information, Vance is reported to have raised the issue repeatedly with both President Trump and other national security officials, insisting on the need for more accurate and comprehensive assessments of the progress of the conflict and the true condition of the military reserves.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty received a phone call from Steve Wittkof, US Special Envoy for the Middle East, to discuss the progress of negotiations between the US and Iran and efforts to ease tensions in the region. The conversation, says an Egyptian spokesman, focused on the assessment of the US-Iran negotiations, the proposals made by the parties involved, and the ongoing efforts to reach a "mutually acceptable solution" between the US and Iran. Abdelatty stressed the importance of continuing negotiations to consolidate the ceasefire and work towards ending the conflict, and reiterated that diplomatic solutions and dialogue are the best way to strengthen regional security and stability. "Egypt," he said, "will continue its tireless efforts, in coordination with its regional and international partners, to promote political solutions that promote security and stability.

The US did not express any negative attitude towards the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. This was stated by presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov. "No, no one has expressed any negative attitude. It is part of normal diplomatic work. Moreover, given Russia's commitment to resolving the Iranian conflict, it is natural that we meet with Araghchi, who, I believe, has something to say,' Ushakov told Vesti news agency.

NEW DELHI - The two US Air Force C-17s in which the armoured SUVs reserved for the US negotiators are travelling have already taken off from Islamabad. Yet, despite the premature failure of the second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran, Pakistani and Iranian diplomacies were already hard at work yesterday trying to put back together the pieces of a complex negotiation that risks derailing every day. Not only because of the constant risk of incidents triggered by the naval blockades in the Persian Gulf and the distance that separates the two sides, but also because of the constant strains coming from the secondary but never really closed front between Israel and the Hezbollah militias in southern Lebanon.

Yesterday, for example, there was first an order to evacuate seven villages that lie beyond the buffer zone occupied by Israeli forces in the neighbouring country and then, according to the Lebanese news agency Ani, bombardments by Israeli warplanes that caused an unspecified number of casualties. In the evening, Hezbollah announced that its attacks against areas occupied by Israeli troops and against the northern regions of the Jewish state were carried out in response to ceasefire violations by Tel Aviv's armed forces.

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu stated that rockets and drones in the possession of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah remain a key threat that requires further military action by the Israeli military in Lebanon. "There are still two main threats from Hezbollah: 122mm rockets and drones. This requires a combination of operational and technological activities,' he said in a statement released by his office.

"Very good ideas" were put forward during the talks held in Moscow between the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi. This was indicated in a note by Tehran's diplomatic chief, describing the meeting with Putin, which lasted more than an hour and a half, as "very positive". "All topics were discussed and analysed in detail, from bilateral relations to regional issues, as well as the war and aggression of the US regime and the Zionist regime," Araghchi said, speaking of "very good foundations" for cooperation with Moscow. "Putin also said that not only Russia, but now the whole world admires the Iranian people, for their resistance against America and for their victory in this unjust and unjust war," Araghchi added. "We thank our Russian friends for their support during this war and declare the Islamic Republic of Iran's willingness to continue strategic relations and strategic partnership with Russia under the new conditions.

Pakistan has eased the way for Iran to import goods from third countries through its territory by opening new transit routes. According to a government notification issued over the weekend, six routes have been designated connecting ports such as Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar with major border crossings in the southwestern province of Balucistan. The notification was issued during a visit to the capital Islamabad by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who met with Pakistani officials to discuss the crisis between Tehran and the United States. According to analysts, these new trade routes will allow products destined for Iran to pass quickly through Pakistan without being delayed by bureaucratic obstacles.

At least 2,521 dead and 7,804 wounded are the death toll of Israeli attacks in Lebanon since 2 March, the Lebanese Ministry of Health has announced.

'The main cause of the problem [of rising prices] is the current blockade and closure of the Strait of Hormuz. We must therefore tackle the root of the problem and allow the situation to return to normal,' said French President Emmanuel Macron.

Macron said he wanted to talk 'with the Iranian authorities, hoping to 'convince' the parties concerned 'in the coming days': 'It is important to be able to reopen traffic on both sides to allow gas, oil, fertilisers and other goods to pass through this strait, because this has an impact on the global economy'.

Bahrain's Interior Ministry announced the revocation of the citizenship of 69 people accused of expressing 'sympathy and support for Iran's hostile and criminal acts'. The measure, according to the authorities, also affects the relatives of the persons concerned. Bahrain is among the Gulf countries that have imposed strict controls on information about Iranian attacks during the conflict, arresting residents and foreign nationals who had filmed them. The Sunni monarchy, which governs a Shia majority population, has been the scene of pro-Iranian demonstrations since the early stages of the war.

The words of European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas at a press point on the sidelines of the Informal Meeting of EU Heads of State in Cyprus.

The International Maritime Organisation, the specialised agency of the United Nations, reiterates its opposition to any kind of right of passage in the Strait of Hormuz. "There is no legal basis for the introduction of taxes, tariffs or any other charges on straits used for international navigation," commented the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (Imo), Arsenio Dominguez, during a press conference on the right of passage that Tehran intends to impose in the Strait. According to Iran, under a draft bill, its army should have authority over the Strait of Hormuz, argued Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the parliamentary committee for national security in charge of examining the text. The draft also stipulates that passage fees should be paid in the local currency, the Iranian rial. Dominguez, speaking on the sidelines of the Imo Maritime Protection Committee, where measures to decarbonise maritime transport are also being discussed, said he was in contact with "all countries in the region", including Iran. The Agency's number one firmly rejected the possibility that a solution for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could involve the payment of any kind of fee and also confirmed that an evacuation plan, on which the Imo has pledged to work, of the 20,000 stranded sailors, spread across some 1,600 ships in the Gulf, could only take place once passage is completely safe and in no case through the payment of a passage fee.

The laying of the foundation stone of a new neighbourhood in the Israeli settlement town of Ariel took place at a celebratory ceremony attended by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and other senior government officials. This was reported by the Times of Israel. The new neighbourhood constitutes the first part of a project to build about 12,000 housing units in the west of the city, in the northern part of the West Bank, and to expand the city from its current population of about 22,000 to 80,000, according to the office of Ariel Mayor Yair Chetboun. Not all of the 12,000 housing units have yet received building permits. "There is no more joyful noise than the bulldozers that are building Israel and destroying the idea of the Palestinian state," Smotrich said during the ceremony. "We are doing everything we can to build the Land of Israel and destroy the terrible idea of those who seek to take over the region to harm the State of Israel," he continued.

Kiev has warned that there will be diplomatic repercussions if Israel allows a ship carrying grain stolen from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories to dock and unload its cargo in the port of Haifa. This was reported by Axios, citing an unnamed Ukrainian source, who said that the Panamanian-flagged ship Panormitis had entered Haifa Bay yesterday morning and was waiting to enter the port. Maritime traffic monitoring services show the vessel stopped near the Israeli coast. The news comes after another ship, the Russian bulk carrier Abinsk, docked in Haifa at the beginning of April with almost 44,000 tonnes of 'stolen' Ukrainian grain, prompting condemnation from Kiev. An investigation by the Israeli daily Haaretz revealed that at least four cargoes of stolen Ukrainian wheat have already been unloaded in Israel this year. According to reports two days ago by journalist Kateryna Yaresko of the Myrotvorets Centre's SeaKrime project, the Panormitis had initially departed from the port of Kavkaz in Russia's Krasnodar Territory with over 6,200 tonnes of wheat and 19,000 tonnes of barley on board. The ship was loaded with grain from the occupied Ukrainian territories, via transhipments from other ships, Yaresko wrote. The Axios source said that Ukraine reserves the 'right to implement a full range of international diplomatic and legal responses' if the Panoramitis is allowed to dock, pointing out that Israel 'basically ignored' Kiev's requests regarding the ship it had docked earlier.

The US State Department has announced a reward of up to $10 million for anyone who provides information on Haydar Muzhir Ma'lak al-Sa'idi, also known as Haydar al-Gharawi, secretary general of the Iraqi armed group Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (Haaa), an organisation considered close to Iran. Haaa and its leader were placed on the list of 'Specially Designated Global Terrorists' in June 2024, following the group's involvement in the 28 January 2024 drone attack against the Tower 22 base in Jordan, in which three US servicemen died. The State Department also alleges that members of the group have conducted attacks against US diplomatic posts in Iraq and against US military bases and personnel in Jordan and Syria. Haaa operates within the framework of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (Rii), a coalition of pro-Iranian armed groups that, according to Washington, has claimed more than 750 attacks against US targets in Iraq and the region since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran in 2026. The attacks are presented by the groups as actions in support of Tehran. Operations attributed to these militias have also hit the US embassy in Baghdad, the capital's international airport, stopovers in Iraqi Kurdistan, and energy infrastructure in the region.

Leaders of the northern Israeli communities bordering Lebanon announced the suspension of classes in schools, in defiance of IDF directives, as Hezbollah attacks continue. The Times of Israel reports. "We will not wait for a catastrophe to occur before making decisions that can save lives," Moshe Davidovich, chairman of the Forum that brings together the northern border communities, says during a press conference in Shtula. Starting tomorrow, classes will be suspended for at least 24 hours, after which the decision will be reassessed. Davidovich criticised the government's classification of the area as 'green', which allows normal school activities, calling it 'negligent' due to the ongoing conflict. "We take responsibility for our children's lives and classify the area as orange," a level that prohibits educational activities and restricts gatherings. The decision comes after images spread online showing children in northern communities sheltering in bunkers during a Hezbollah drone strike this morning, which set off sirens in a dozen towns.

The European Commission "discourages" initiatives such as the new peaceful mission of activists of the "Global Sumud Flotilla" to Gaza, which set sail yesterday from the port of Augusta, Sicily, in an attempt to bring humanitarian aid to the Strip, against the illegal naval blockade in Palestinian territorial waters. This was said today in Brussels, answering a question during the daily press briefing, the spokeswoman for Humanitarian Aid of the EU executive, Eva Hrncirova.

"While respecting the humanitarian commitment of all the people on board the Flotilla, I must say that we discourage this kind of initiative, because," the spokeswoman explained, "it puts the safety of the participants at risk.

The Israel Defence Forces announced that they had demolished 14 kilometres of Hamas tunnels in the northern Gaza Strip in recent months. According to reports in the Times of Israel, the IDF stated that the tunnels were located on the Israeli side of the ceasefire demarcation line in Gaza, specifically in the Beit Hanoun area. The soldiers of the Northern Brigade of the Gaza Division - the IDF still reports - stationed in the northern part of the Strip, killed around 70 suspected militiamen who had violated the terms of the ceasefire and "posed a threat".

"It is difficult to say now" who will be the winner in the conflict in Iran, "there has been a huge, really massive attack that has devastated the territory. There is also a kind of new resilience on the other side. These are two important factors. I would wait a little longer before deciding who is winning and who is losing, because the situation is still evolving. I think negotiation will prevail in the end'. So says the chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, in an interview with Rbc Ukraine.

Relations between Iran and Russia will strengthen despite current events. This was stated by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during a meeting with Russian PresidentVladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. Interfax reports. "During this trip I was asked to confirm that for us Iranian-Russian relations represent a strategic partnership at the highest level, and this is the path we will follow," he said. The Iranian foreign minister emphasised that the whole world was able to see that "the Iranian people, thanks to their resilience and courage, have been able to withstand American attacks and aggression, and will continue to resist and stand firm during this period as well".

The words of the British Prime Minister speaking about the war in Iran on stage at the annual meeting of delegates of Usdaw, the trade and distribution workers' union.

Russia will do everything possible in the interests of Iran and other countries in the region to ensure peace in the Middle East as quickly as possible. This is what Russian President Vladmir Putin said in a conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, head of Tehran's diplomatic delegation, in St. Petersburg, according to the Ria Novosti news agency. The meeting was also attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergej Lavrov.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi thanked Russian President Vladmir Putin for Moscow's support for Tehran. This was reported by the Ria Novosti news agency, saying that during the meeting in St. Petersburg Araghchi handed Putin a message from Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, and one from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The Iranian foreign minister also praised relations between Moscow and Tehran and stressed that they will continue to strengthen, Ria adds. Also present at the meeting between Putin and Araghchi were Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, presidential adviserYuri Ushakov and the head of the General Directorate of the Armed Forces General Staff Igor Kostyukov. The Iranian delegation, in addition to Araghchi, included his deputy, Kazem Gharib-Abadi, and Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali.

In the past 24 hours, at least seven ships, mainly bulk carriers, have crossed the Strait of Hormuz. The figure is in line with the reduced marine traffic activity recorded in recent days, while talks between Iran and the US have stalled. According to ship tracking company Kpler and a separate satellite analysis conducted by data analysis specialists SynMax, the vessels included ships departing from Iraqi ports and a dry bulk cargo ship from an Iranian port. The maritime traffic that crossed the crucial waterway at the entrance to the Gulf during the precarious ceasefire between Washington and Tehran represents only a fraction of the 140 average daily transits recorded before the war with Iran began on 28 February. The US Central Command has hijacked 37 ships since the blockade was imposed on Iran on 13 April, the military said on 25 April. According to TankerTrackers.com's satellite analysis, six Iranian oil tankers have returned to Iranian ports and returned to Hormuz in recent days, carrying about 10.5 million barrels of oil. According to a separate satellite analysis conducted by TankerTrackers.com, about four million barrels of Iranian oil aboard tankers passed through the US blockade on 24 April.

Iran considers that its army should have authority over the Strait of Hormuz, according to a bill. This was stated by a senior official. In detail, Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the parliamentary committee for national security, in charge of examining the text, told state television that the armed forces would control the Strait to prevent, among other things, the passage of 'hostile ships'. The draft also stipulates that transit fees would be paid in the local currency, the Iranian rial.

The Iranian armed forces will be the authority in charge of managing the Strait of Hormuz, according to a bill currently under consideration in the Majlis. This was emphasised by the chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Ebrahim Azizi, explaining on state TV that the aim is to entrust the military with the control of the strategic passage, also to prevent the crossing of "hostile ships". The draft law, added the head of the committee in charge of examining the text, also stipulates that transit fees in the strait are to be paid in local currency, the Iranian rial.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said direct negotiations with Israel aim to end the conflict with Hezbollah, while accusing those who dragged Lebanon into the war of "treason", in an implicit rebuke to the Iran-backed armed group. "My goal is to achieve an end to the state of war with Israel, similar to the 1949 armistice," Aoun said in a statement, adding, "I assure you that I will not accept reaching a humiliating agreement." "Those who dragged us into the war in Lebanon now hold us responsible because we took the decision to start negotiations.... What we are doing is not treason. Rather, treason is committed by those who take their country to war to pursue foreign interests," he concluded.

The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, does not believe that the US can quickly end the war in Iran. "Because the Iranians are clearly stronger than previously thought, and the Americans clearly do not have a really convincing strategy in negotiations," Merz said during a meeting with students in Marsberg, in the Sauerland region. "The problem with these conflicts is always the same: not only do we have to get in, but we also have to get out. We saw this to our cost in Afghanistan, for 20 years. We saw it in Iraq,' the chancellor explained. Merz criticised the Americans, saying that 'it is clear that they have entered this war in Iran without any strategy'. This, in his view, makes even more difficult to end the conflict. "Mainly because the Iranians are clearly skilled negotiators, or rather, very skilled at not negotiating. An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership," Merz said. 'At the moment the situation is quite complex. And it is costing us a lot of money. This conflict, this war against Iran, is having a direct impact on our economic production,' the chancellor said again. Germany reiterates its offer to provide dragons to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for global oil supplies. However, this is conditional on the cessation of fighting before that date.

US President Donald Trump will hold a crisis meeting on Iran today, according to US media reports. Trump would meet with his top national security and foreign policy team, as reported by the Axios website. "The meeting is expected to focus on the current stalemate in negotiations with Iran and possible options for the next stages of the war," is explained by the site, which had already this morning relaunched the news of Tehran's offer of a deal to the US only on the navigation of Hormuz, decoupling the topic from the nuclear issue. According to Abc News, which quotes 'two US officials with knowledge of the preparations', the Trump administration is becoming increasingly confident in the impact of the ongoing naval blockade of Iranian ports and increasingly sceptical about the ability of the talks with the current Iranian negotiators to produce the desired results.

"We had an excellent discussion on the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi. As coastal states, we recognise our shared responsibility to the international community and the urgent humanitarian need to free seafarers detained for far too long. Many diplomatic efforts and concrete solutions are needed to ensure lasting freedom of navigation'. Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi writes this on X.

Pakistan's work to bridge the gaps between the US and Iran has not stopped despite the failure of the face-to-face talks after Donald Trump cancelled a trip by his envoys and told Iran to phone when it wants a deal. Reuters reports on the site.

Soldati dell'esercito montano la guardia su un ponte sopraelevato per garantire la sicurezza dei colloqui tra Stati Uniti e Iran, a Islamabad, in Pakistan, sabato 25 aprile 2026. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

In view of the situation in the Middle East, the importance of a conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cannot be underestimated, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today, ahead of a meeting in St. Petersburg between the Russian leader and the Iranian diplomat. "The importance of this conversation cannot be underestimated, considering the development of the situation in Iran and the Middle East," Peskov said.

The Iranian Trade Promotion Organisation has issued a directive stating that the export of steel plates and sheets is banned until 30 May, due to the pressure the country's steel industry is under following the US and Israeli attacks. Iran International reports. The secretary of the Iranian Steel Producers' Association had previously stated that work was underway on an urgent plan to import hot-rolled slabs and plates and also urged the industries to carefully manage the demand for raw materials for the next two months.

"We believe that the lifting of sanctions is premature, because the sanctions were imposed on Iran for a very specific reason: its behaviour towards the population. Earlier this year alone, the regime killed 17,000 young people. The repression of human rights, and in particular women's rights, and many other issues are behind the sanctions. We must first see a change, a fundamental change, in Iran before we can lift the sanctions, which is why we believe it is too early'. This was stated by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at a press conference after the meeting of the CDU/CSU group's governing council in the German Bundestag.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly made it clear to Pakistani, Egyptian, Turkish and Qatari mediators over the weekend that there is no consensus within the Iranian leadership on how to deal with US demands. This was reported by Axios citing a source. The US is demanding that Iran suspend uranium enrichment for at least a decade and remove enriched uranium from the country. The new proposal, submitted to the US through Pakistani mediators, focuses first of all on resolving the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and the US blockade. As part of such an agreement, the American media reports, the ceasefire would be extended for a long period or the parties would agree on a definitive end to the war.

In questa foto diffusa dall'Ufficio del Primo Ministro pakistano, il Primo Ministro Shehbaz Sharif, a sinistra, saluta il ministro degli Esteri iraniano Abbas Araghchi prima del loro incontro a Islamabad, in Pakistan, sabato 25 aprile 2026. (Ufficio del Primo Ministro pakistano via AP)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he discussed ways to continue dialogue with the United States during his visit to Pakistan. "I had good consultations with my friends in Pakistan and the visit was positive. We discussedunder what conditions and on what path the negotiations can continue," Araghchi wrote on Telegram.

The minister also said that during his visit to Oman, he discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran and Muscat share many common positions and the sides agreed to continue dialogue at expert level, Araghchi added.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today during his visit to St. Petersburg. This was reported by the Fars news agency. Irna had earlier reported that during his visit to St. Petersburg, Araghchi would be engaged in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali said yesterday that the Iranian foreign minister's visit is aimed at promoting the country's interests amid threats from abroad.

Negotiations between the United States and Iran, which should avert the resumption of the conflict, remain stalled. At the moment, after Donald Trump announced that he had cancelled the mission of Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad, the possibility of a new round of direct talks seems remote. The US president, however, does not close the door on Tehran and reiterates that he is in no hurry to reach an agreement. The tycoon rules out future trips to Pakistan by the US delegation, "it's a matter of hours and hours of flying time", but if "they want to talk, they can come to us or call us. There's the phone,' he said in an interview with Fox News Channel's 'The Sunday Briefing' programme on Sunday.

The testimony of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the trial against him for fraud and corruption, scheduled for today after a two-month break in the trial due to the war against Iran, has been cancelled for security reasons at the request of his lawyer Amit Hadad. This was announced by the Ynet website, stating that the hearing was due to start in about an hour.

Another rise for the oil price after the second round of peace talks between the US and Iran was also cancelled and President Trump stated that any further negotiations with Iran could take place over the phone.

Brent crude maturing in June rose 1.87 percent to $107.3 a barrel, while Wti of the same maturity rose 1.66 percent to $95.97. Citi analysts, meanwhile, postponed the baseline scenario for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to late May from mid- to late April, and reiterated their bullish target on the Brent price for a three-month high of $120 per barrel.

The meeting with Putin "will be a good opportunity to discuss developments in the war". This was said by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi upon his arrival in St. Petersburg, according to Al-Jazeera reports. The aim of the visit, he said, was "to continue the close consultations between Tehran and Moscow on regional and international issues". He said that the meeting with the Russian president scheduled for today "will be a good opportunity to take the point on the current situation. I am confident that these consultations and coordination between the two countries in this area will be of particular importance,' he added. Araghchi also said that his trip to Islamabad was "very productive" and involved "good consultations", during which officials "reviewed past events and the specific conditions under which negotiations between Iran and the US could continue". During his visit to Oman, Araghchi said that the two sides had held talks on the Strait of Hormuz: "Iran and Oman are the two coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz, which makes reciprocal consultations necessary, especially since the safety of the passage through the Strait has become a global issue of great importance," he said. "It is only natural that as two coastal nations of this Strait, we need to dialogue to ensure that our common interests are protected and to remain coordinated in any action taken, as the interests of both Iran and Oman are directly involved." Araghchi added that there was a 'high degree of consensus' between Iran and Oman and that the two sides agreed 'that consultations should continue at the expert level'. As for Pakistan, this country 'played an important role in mediating negotiations between Iran and the US recently, and it was necessary to discuss the latest developments,' he said.

Former Israeli prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid have merged their political parties ahead of this year's elections, in an attempt to oust Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in the hunt for his seventh term as prime minister. This move makes the new party - called "Insieme" - the biggest in the polls. "The unity among us is a message to all of Israel: the era of divisions is over. The time for reconstruction has come. When we fight together, we win," Bennett said at a press conference with Lapid. Lapid's party's approval ratings have dropped sharply over the past year, while Bennett and other anti-Netanyahu politicians have gained popularity. According to analysts, this explains Lapid's willingness to relinquish the leadership. "Let's put ego aside and do what is best for this country," Lapid told a press conference.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, arriving in Russia, said it was the US approach that had "caused the postponement of the negotiations" that had been scheduled in Islamabad, Pakistan. "The previous ones, despite progress, had failed to achieve their goals," he added, blaming what he called Washington's "excessive demands".

Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has arrived in St. Petersburg, where he has a meeting with Vladimir Putin on his agenda, a new stage in a diplomatic track regarding the Middle East conflict, after the failed meeting with the United States in Islamabad. "Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi arrived in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Monday morning to meet and have talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin," several Iranian state media reported.

"US forces have intercepted 38 ships" in the Strait of Hormuz that have been ordered "to reverse course or return to port". This was reported in a post on X by the Centcom, the Us Central Command.

Iran has submitted a new proposal to the United States to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and start talks on Tehran's nuclear programme at alater stage. This is reported by Axios. According to sources, the new proposal would be presented to the US via Pakistani mediators. "Diplomacy is at a stalemate and the Iranian leadership is divided over what concessions on the nuclear issue should be put on the table. The Iranian proposal would circumvent this problem, aiming for a faster agreement,' notes Axios. The proposal 'focuses on resolving the strait crisis and the US blockade'. "As part of this agreement," Axios explains, "the ceasefire would be extended for a long period or the parties would agree on a definitive end to the war. According to the proposal, nuclear negotiations would only begin at a later stage, after the opening of the straits and the lifting of the blockade'. US President Donald Trump is expected to hold a meeting on Iran with his top national security and foreign policy aides on Monday to "discuss the stalemate in negotiations and possible next steps".