The White House announced on Friday that US President Donald Trump will send envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan to participate in the second round of ceasefire negotiations with Iran.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Abbas Araghji Late on Friday, the Pakistani foreign minister met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir shortly after his arrival in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. Officials said that Araqchi met on Saturday morning with Munir and Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Pakistan is also preparing to receive Witkopf and Kushner to begin renewed talks, although officials have not specified when they will arrive in Islamabad. The White House said Vice President J.D. Vance would not attend.
The Trump administration announced its status Economic sanctions A major oil refinery based in China and nearly 40 shipping and tanker companies involved in transporting Iranian oil. This step appears to be part of the administration’s move Threat of imposing secondary sanctions On entities that do business with Iran in order to cut off Iranian oil exports, a major source of its revenue.
Here is the latest:
Commercial flights resumed today, Saturday, at Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran for the first time since the start of the war with the United States and Israel about two months ago.
Iranian state television reported that the airport has flights to Istanbul in Türkiye, the Omani capital, Muscat, and Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Flightradar24, a flight tracking platform, showed that at least three flights bound for Istanbul departed on Saturday morning.
Iran partially reopened its airspace earlier this month during a ceasefire with the United States
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that his country plans to deploy minesweeping ships in the Mediterranean Sea, which can later be transferred to the Strait of Hormuz.
“We will deploy a minesweeper in the Mediterranean and equip it with a command and supply ship,” Pistorius told the Rheinische Post on Saturday.
He did not say exactly when the ships were scheduled to depart.
After the end of hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran, German minesweepers could be deployed in the Strait of Hormuz, although such a mission would need approval from the German parliament.
“To save time, we decided to deploy part of the German units in the Mediterranean early so as not to lose more time once the mandate was approved,” Pistorius said.
The Pakistani capital, Islamabad, appeared to be on a near-total lockdown Saturday morning, hours after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi arrived on a closely watched visit, as Pakistan tries to ease tensions between the United States and Iran.
The week-long security restrictions have disrupted daily life, with hundreds of thousands of residents struggling to move even short distances. Checkpoints, road closures and diversions have become routine sights, especially around sensitive areas.
The normally busy arteries leading to the airport and the heavily fortified red zone were largely deserted early Saturday, with movement severely restricted. Soldiers and police were present at major intersections, while helicopters flew overhead.
Measures have been strengthened over the past 24 hours on the outskirts of the city, with additional forces stationed along the main access roads to the airport. The soldiers were seen on the rooftops overlooking the main roads, especially near the airport where the Iranian delegation arrived late on Friday.
Iran on Saturday executed a man by hanging over his alleged ties to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and his participation in anti-government protests in January.
Irfan Kayani was the latest in a series of executions in Iran following the war and protests that have gripped the country.
Mizan News Agency, affiliated with the Iranian judiciary, announced that Kayani was convicted of charges including launching attacks on security forces in the city of Isfahan in January.
The agency claimed that he was on a “mission for the Mossad” without providing evidence.
Human rights activists have long said Iran convicts people in closed trials without allowing the accused to adequately defend themselves.
Multiple executions of alleged spies, as well as protesters and people belonging to an Iranian opposition group in exile, have recently been carried out.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is expected to head to Beijing on Saturday to begin a week-long visit at the invitation of the Chinese government.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the discussions will include economic and trade cooperation and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
China has played a facilitating role Pakistan hosts ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran. Zardari is expected to discuss his country’s efforts to host the second round.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said the visit is part of a long-standing tradition of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China and holds special significance as it celebrates the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
“It reflects the deep commitment of the two countries to continue strengthening the strategic cooperative partnership in all circumstances,” the ministry said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met late Friday with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir shortly after his arrival in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, officials said.
Officials said that Araqchi met on Saturday morning with Munir and Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said that the Iranian delegation will hold talks with the Pakistani senior leadership on the latest regional developments and efforts to promote peace and stability.
The visit comes as Pakistan is also preparing to receive US envoys, although officials have not specified when Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will arrive in Islamabad.
On Friday evening, the Egyptian and Pakistani foreign ministers discussed efforts to launch a new round of talks between the United States and Iran.
Badr Abdel Ati spoke by phone with his Pakistani counterpart, Muhammad Ishaq Dar.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that diplomats stressed that negotiations are the best way to end the war.