US-Iran war, latest news. Tehran: nuclear power out of the negotiations

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, via Pakistan, reportedly conveyed messages to the United States concerning American demands to which Tehran is unwilling to agree. "These messages relate to some of the Islamic Republic's red lines, including the nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz," the Fars news agency, close to the Pasdaran, reported, adding that "reliable sources stress that Araghchi is acting fully within the established red lines and the diplomatic duties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." The agency added that the messages conveyed 'are not related to the negotiations' and are 'considered an initiative by Iran to clarify the regional situation'.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards promise to support Hezbollah in the fight in Lebanon. Esmail Qaani, commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, said that 'cohesion within the Resistance Front' is stronger than ever and 'today the focus is on supporting Hezbollah and the other components of the Resistance Front'. This was reported by the Tasnim news agency, writes al Jazeera.

US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran's oil system could 'explode' within three days if there are further disruptions to the country's energy infrastructure. Trump explained to Fox News that if the oil cannot be transported, 'it will continue to accumulate mechanically and underground', increasing pressure in pipeline systems and underground facilities to the point where 'a rupture or explosion could occur that could permanently damage the system'. The president added that even with reconstruction, the infrastructure could only return to about '50 per cent' of its current capacity, calling the scenario a 'very, very powerful' consequence.

The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed to the Ria Novosti news agency that Iranian diplomatic chief Abbas Araghchi will visit Moscow tomorrow for talks. "We confirm Araghchi's visit to Russia for the purpose of conducting negotiations," he told Ria. Earlier, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Moscow, Kazem Jalali, had announced that Araghchi would visit Russia on 27 April.

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.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has left Islamabad bound for Moscow after a series of talks with Pakistani authorities. This was reported by the Iranian state news agency Irna, according to which during the visit, on his return from Oman, Araghchi held a new round of talks with local officials. According to Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali, the mission to Moscow will include a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. The focus of the talks will be on the latest developments in the negotiations, the ceasefire and key regional issues.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow tomorrow as part of a visit during which he will take stock of the ongoing peace negotiations. This was reported by the Iranian news agency Isna, citing Tehran's ambassador to Russia. During the visit to the Russian capital, a stop on a diplomatic tour that began on Friday in Islamabad, Araghchi will discuss with "Russian officials the latest status of the negotiations, the ceasefire and related developments", and will present "an account of the talks" to the authorities in Moscow, the agency added.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had a telephone conversation with his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, on the latest regional and diplomatic developments. "In the course of this conversation, our country's foreign minister explained various aspects of the current situation in the region, particularly developments related to the ceasefire, and briefed his Saudi counterpart on the Islamic Republic of Iran's latest efforts and diplomatic initiatives to end the war and reduce tensions," a statement read.

'The war with Iran will end very soon, and we will come out clearly victorious'. US President Donald Trump said this to Fox News in the aftermath of the Washington attack.

The Strait of Hormuz will not return to pre-war conditions. Ali Nikzad, deputy speaker of Iran's parliament, told the semi-official Mehr news agency. "We will in no way return the Strait of Hormuz to its previous state, because this is an order from the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution," Mojtaba Khamenei, Nikzad said.

After the cancellation of the trip of envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad for talks with Iran, two C-17 aircraft of the US Air Force, with security personnel, equipment and vehicles for the protection of US officials, left Pakistan: this was reported by US media citing Reuters and two Pakistani government sources.

Israel supplied a battery of the Iron Dome anti-missile system to the United Arab Emirates, along with a number of interceptor missiles and the troops needed to operate it, in the early stages of the war with Iran that broke out on 28 February. Axios reports this, citing two Israeli and one US source. A 'senior Israeli official' told Axios that the UAE is the first country, besides the US and Israel, where Iron Dome has ever been used.

"We must choose whether to trust God, who does not come to steal anything from us, or "thieves", that is, those who, despite appearances, stifle our freedom or do not respect us in our dignity" and above all "those thieves who, by plundering the earth's resources, fighting bloody wars or feeding evil in any form, do nothing but rob us all of the possibility of a future of peace and serenity". This was said by the Pope at the Regina Coeli adding that "convictions and prejudices" or "superficial or consumerist lifestyles, which empty us inwardly, also take something from us".

"Jesus does not come like a thief to steal our life and our freedom - added the Pope at the Regina Coeli, which in this liturgical season replaces the Angelus -, but to lead us in the right paths. He does not come to kidnap or deceive our conscience, but to enlighten it with the light of his wisdom. He does not come as if to pollute our earthly joys, but opens them to a fuller and more lasting happiness. He who trusts in Him has nothing to fear: He does not mortify our life, but comes to give it to us in abundance".

Pakistan's senior political and military leadership is continuing to mediate between the US and Iran, with indirect ceasefire negotiations still ongoing despite rising tensions between the parties. This was stated by two Pakistani officials.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected in Pakistan's capital Islamabad this evening for a second visit in as many days after a brief trip to Oman.

The Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, met with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, in Muscat 'to discuss the regional situation and mediation efforts aimed at ending the US-Israeli war against Iran'. This was reported by Oman's state news agency, picked up by Al Jazeera. Araghchi listened to the Sultan's proposals on how to achieve 'sustainable political solutions and limit the repercussions of crises on the peoples of the region', while the Omani leader emphasised 'the importance of prioritising the language of dialogue and diplomacy in addressing issues, contributing to the consolidation of the foundations of peace'. Finally, it said, Araghchi expressed Iran's appreciation for Al Said's efforts in 'supporting dialogue and strengthening initiatives for security and stability in the region, especially in light of the current regional challenges'.

Isaac Herzog's office confirmed that the Israeli president is trying to reach an agreement between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and prosecutors over the premier's corruption trial, now in its seventh year. Herzog's office issued this statement in response to a New York Times article quoting officials close to the president. "As he has stated several times in the past, President Isaac Herzog believes that reaching an agreement between the parties in Prime Minister Netanyahu's cases is an appropriate and fair solution," the president's office said.

Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee issued an urgent warning to residents of several locations in southern Lebanon, urging them to evacuate their homes immediately. In a message published on X, he mentioned the localities of Meifdoun, Choukine, Yahmar, Arnoun, Zoutar al-Charqiya, Zoutar al-Gharbiya and Kfar Tebnit. According to him, this measure comes "in light of a violation of the ceasefire agreement" by Hezbollah. The Israeli army "is forced to act forcefully" against this movement, he added. The spokesman stressed that the army "has no intention of striking civilians", although he called on them, "for their own safety", to leave the area immediately and to keep a distance of at least one thousand metres. He also warned that anyone in the vicinity of Hezbollah members, their installations or military vehicles 'puts their lives in danger'.

With 95% of the ballots counted, the Palestinian municipal elections held on Saturday saw a substantial victory for Fatah. However, they also certify the emergence of a number of independent candidate lists, identified with the internal opposition of the party of Palestinian National Authority (PNA) President Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas), 90 years old and in office since 2005, against whom polls over the years have shown a general discontent, contesting the lack of renewal of leadership and corruption.

Even before the announcement of the preliminary results, Fatah had declared in the morning that its 'Resilience and Generosity' electoral lists had achieved ''an overwhelming victory'', describing the result as ''a popular referendum endorsing its political programme and national vision''.

The Sultan of Oman, Haitham Ben Tareq, met with the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghtchi, in Muscat. This was reported by the official Omani news agency. The two sides discussed the regional situation and mediation efforts aimed at ending the conflict in Iran, the news agency reported.

"The closure of the Strait of Hormuz would be a critical factor especially in terms of energy and logistics, with indirect but significant effects also on the availability of medicines and medical devices. We should not imagine an immediate interruption of supplies: the health system in Italy generally has stocks and a distribution chain that can absorb short-term shocks'. In a note, Fabrizio Pregliasco, director of the School of Specialisation in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine at Milan's La Statale University, past president of Anpas and vice president of Samaritan International, explains what would happen to Italian healthcare if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed for a long time.

Iran "will not enter negotiations under pressure, threats, siege". This was said by the Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the Iranian Mehr news agency in the aftermath of his telephone conversation with the Pakistani premier, Shehbaz Sharif, which focused on the latest developments in the region. According to the agency, Pezeshkian objected to 'continuous violations and coercive behaviour by the United States'. The Iranian president, it says, also reiterated that Tehran remains committed to "building and strengthening" relations with "all neighbouring countries" and defending "national security". Yesterday, the Pakistani side had reported a telephone conversation of about 50 minutes between the Pakistani prime minister and the Iranian president, following the visit of the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, to Islamabad and the cancellation of the US mission led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli raid while riding a motorbike in southern Gaza City. This was reported by media close to the Palestinian Islamic fundamentalist movement Hamas. In addition, a 40-year-old woman was reportedly killed by Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) fire in the southern part of the city. No further details were provided and the news could not be independently verified. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had no comment for the time being.

Hezbollah claimed two attacks carried out this morning against Israeli soldiers stationed in the southern Lebanese town of Taybeh. The pro-Iranian militant organisation said the attacks were a response to alleged violations of the ceasefire agreement by Israel. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have not commented on the incidents for the time being.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had a telephone conversation focused on Iran with "American negotiators" involved in diplomatic work. This was reported by the Turkish Anadolu Agency, which cites diplomatic sources according to which Fidan exchanged views on the latest developments in the difficult negotiations between the US and Iran.

Iran put to death a man accused of belonging to the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl and of participating in attacks against security forces in the south-east of the country, the judiciary announced. The convicted person, Amer Ramesh, had been arrested during an anti-terrorist operation in the area of Pirsahrab, Chabahar County, Sistan-Baluchistan Province, the Mizan website reported. The dates of his arrest and sentencing were not immediately clarified. The execution took place after the Iranian Supreme Court upheld the guilty plea against him. Jaish al-Adl is a militant group considered jihadist, banned in Iran and listed as a terrorist organisation in the United States.

Lebanese state media reported in the evening a series of new Israeli attacks in at least four different locations in the south of the country, after Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu ordered his army to attack Hezbollah following alleged ceasefire violations. The state-run National News Agency reported two attacks in quick succession in a town in the Bint Jbeil district, another in a town in the Tyre district, and attacks in two other towns in the Nabatieh district.

"This incident will not deter me from winning the war in Iran". This is what US President Donald Trump said at a press conference at the White House after the foiled attack at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, where he was scheduled to dine with journalists. The president added that he did not think the shooting was war-related. "I want to live because I want to make this country great. When you have impact they target you. When you don't have it they leave you alone." The president then recalled the attack he suffered during the election campaign, when he was wounded in the ear. "This is not the first time in the last couple of years that Republicans have been attacked or killed. In light of tonight, I call on Americans to resolve their differences peacefully. That goes for Republicans, Democrats, independents, progressives." Asked if he was concerned about threats to his life, the president said, 'It's a dangerous profession'. Then he added: 'No country is immune to political violence'.

The firing action against President Trump 'raised doubts and many questions from the first minutes'. Thus the Iranian news agency Tasnim writes on social media. "Numerous web users in the United States are asking: whether this is a staged action and what is Trump's goal? Does he want to exploit it in view of the upcoming mid-term elections in the US, or does he intend to use it against Iran or another country?" comments Tasnim.

NEW YORK - US President Donald Trump was urgently evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner in response to an attack foiled in extremis by the Secret Service protecting the president. A gunman forced his way through security controls at the Washington Hilton Hotel where the event was taking place, wreaking havoc. But he was neutralised by agents before he could rush into the room where the evening had just begun in the presence of Trump, first lady Melania and numerous administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance. Before, that is, potential tragedy.

In a surprise move, Donald Trump cancels the trip of his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to resume talks with Tehran in Islamabad. And a few hours later he reveals that, following his decision, 'within ten minutes we received a new document that was much better than the previous one. They offered a lot but not enough'. The president made the announcement of the halt to the mission to Fox News and Axios shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had left for Muscat, leaving the Pakistani capital, where he had met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir, delivering Tehran's 'comprehensive' response to the American conditions and Pakistani mediation proposals.