Live updates on the Iran-US war: Trump's envoys are heading to Pakistan as Tehran denies direct talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Pakistan, but no meeting with the US is planned, according to Iranian officials.
Diplomatic Push Amid Denials
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to leave for Pakistan for a fresh diplomatic push, even as Iran insists no direct talks with Washington are on the table. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed talks were taking place because Iran reached out to the US for an in-person meeting. However, in a post on X, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson stated that although Araghchi had arrived in Pakistan, no meeting is planned between Iran and the US, adding that Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan.
Donald Trump would not say who the US was negotiating with from the Iranian side but claimed that "we're dealing with the people that are in charge now." He asserted that Iran plans to offer a deal to satisfy his demands. "They're making an offer and we'll have to see," the US president told Reuters. The US has been unwavering in its demand that Iran give up its enriched uranium and pledge never to obtain a nuclear weapon.
Key Developments Recap
All eyes are on Pakistan's capital Islamabad, where talks are reportedly set to take place between US and Iranian representatives this weekend. Tehran's foreign minister Araghchi has landed in Pakistan, with US envoys Witkoff and Kushner to follow. Iran has publicly denied that direct talks are occurring. The Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed as the war enters its eighth week. A US blockade nearby continues, with Central Command reporting several interceptions and at least 34 redirections of vessels. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz floated the idea of easing sanctions against Iran to speed up a deal, but the suggestion was rejected by European counterparts as premature. US-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin left Kuwait on Saturday after being released from prison, acquitted of all charges related to spreading false information.
Preparations in Islamabad
Pakistan is ramping up security in Islamabad as it prepares to host a potential new round of US-Iran talks. Iran's foreign minister Araghchi has arrived, while the White House says US envoys Witkoff and Kushner are due to follow, citing Tehran's interest in meeting in person. Police officers stand guard near the Serena Hotel, the venue for expected talks, in Islamabad's Red Zone. Posters advertising the 'Islamabad talks' dot roads in the capital. A police officer stands guard as the motorcade believed to be carrying Araghchi arrives.
Trump Faces Diplomatic Backlash
Donald Trump's amplification of a comment describing India and China as "hellhole" has drawn severe criticism from lawmakers and advocacy groups, and a rare condemnation from Delhi. Trump shared on social media a video clip and transcript linked to conservative commentator Michael Savage, who was discussing efforts to end birthright citizenship in the US. Among the remarks reposted was the statement: "A baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring the entire family in from China or India or some other hellhole on the planet." Iran's embassy in India voiced support for Delhi, posting on X: "Maybe someone should book a one-way cultural detox for Mr. #Trump, it might just reduce the random [nonsense]."
Hormuz Crisis Drives Shipping Reroutes
Some businesses are paying as much as $4 million to secure passage through the Panama Canal as the near-total disruption of the Strait of Hormuz forces global shipping to reroute. Normally, vessels book transit slots at fixed rates, but those without reservations can bid for priority access, often paying steep premiums to avoid delays. In recent weeks, auction prices have surged due to escalating US-Iran tensions that have choked traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. More ships are diverting to alternative routes, including the Panama Canal, while buyers source goods elsewhere to bypass the volatile Middle Eastern corridor. Rodrigo Noriega, a Panama City-based lawyer and analyst, said: "With all the bombings, the missiles, the drones, companies are saying it's safer and less expensive to cross through the Panama Canal. All of this is affecting global supply chains."
US Legal Justification for Iran War
The State Department's top lawyer, Reed Rubinstein, argues the campaign is not a new war but a continuation of a long-running conflict with Iran, driven by decades of what Washington calls Iranian aggression. He laid out the case in a statement issued just days before a 1 May deadline under the War Powers Act, which requires the administration to seek congressional approval or halt military operations. Rubinstein argued that Washington was acting in its own defence and in collective self-defence of Israel, citing Iranian aggression since the 1979 revolution. However, many legal experts say the strikes violate the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force except in self-defence against an imminent threat or with Security Council approval.
Egypt and Pakistan Hold Talks
Egypt and Pakistan's foreign ministers held a phone call to discuss reviving diplomacy between the US and Iran. They discussed ways to advance a diplomatic track, stressing that dialogue remains the only viable path to de-escalation. The outreach comes at a delicate moment, with ceasefire efforts under strain and direct US-Iran engagement still uncertain. Islamabad and Cairo have increasingly positioned themselves as key intermediaries, relaying messages and coordinating regional efforts to keep talks alive.
Frustration in Islamabad
Frustration grows among Pakistanis as the capital remains under indefinite lockdown for stalled US-Iran talks. Bilal Mazhar Khawaja, 44, who runs three restaurants in Islamabad, has seen his business severely hit, with food supply chains disrupted and staff movement restricted. Pakistan mediated the first round of peace talks to end the seven-week-old war and appeared confident to get both sides talking again as Trump extended the ceasefire with Tehran this week. No date for the talks has been set, but the city remains under sweeping security restrictions, forcing locals to grapple with uncertainty.
Ousted Navy Secretary Refused to Leave
Ousted US Navy Secretary John Phelan went directly to President Trump to ask to keep his job, according to The Wall Street Journal. Sources say Phelan spent Wednesday night in the White House waiting to see if the president would push back against his dismissal, but he left empty-handed.
Hegseth Shrugs Off Pope's Criticism
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth brushed off Pope Leo's criticism of the Iran conflict, dismissing any suggestion that the US does not have the right justification for waging war in the Middle East. At a Pentagon press briefing marking the eighth week of the war, Hegseth waved off Leo's remarks, in which the Vatican leader condemned using religious justification for the war and called for peace and dialogue. "Pope's gonna do his thing, that's fine," Hegseth said. "We know what our mission is, we know what authority we have, we're very clear about that."
