Here's the latest
• Looming deadline: US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran ends “Wednesday evening Washington time,” adding it’s “highly unlikely” he would extend it if a deal is not reached before then.
• Status of US-Iran negotiations: Vice President JD Vance and top US officials are expected to depart tomorrow for Islamabad, Pakistan, ahead of a potential second round of talks with Iran, according to sources. Iran’s Foreign Ministry earlier insisted there were no plans for talks “as of now.”
• Global energy supply: Oil prices rose sharply again as the Strait of Hormuz remains essentially closed. Trump said his energy secretary is “totally wrong” about gas prices possibly taking a year to fall to pre-war levels.
• Lebanon-Israel talks: Meanwhile, a second round of talks between Israel and Lebanon is scheduled for Thursday, according to Israeli and US officials. Earlier, Lebanon’s president said those peace talks should be separate from any Iran negotiations.
Iranian adviser warns US “miscalculation” will bring “final chastisement”
Mohammad Mokhber, a member of a body advising Iran’s supreme leader, warned Monday that “any miscalculation” by the United States would trigger “final chastisement.”
“We are vigilant that negotiations do not become a cover for a war of attrition strategy and the prolongation of war,” he wrote in a post on X, adding: “Diplomacy is only in the field and authority is desirable for the nation.”
Mokhber, a former acting president, also warned of a “response that may extend beyond the region, transforming the future equations of the world.”
US Vice President JD Vance and other senior US officials are expected to travel to Islamabad, Pakistan, on Tuesday ahead of a potential second round of talks between US and Iranian delegations. Iran has not confirmed it will participate.
President Donald Trump said Monday a ceasefire with Iran is set to expire Wednesday evening, and he called an extension “highly unlikely.”
Hormuz insecurity stems from US "aggression", Iranian FM tells Russian counterpart
Iran’s Foreign Minister has blamed US “aggression” for the current “insecurity” in the Strait of Hormuz during a phone call with his Russian counterpart.
Abbas Araghchi told Sergei Lavrov in a phone call on Monday that Tehran “considered the insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz to be the result of the military aggression of the United States and the Zionist regime,” according to a report by Iranian state media.
“The passage of vessels belonging to other countries through the Strait of Hormuz is carried out in coordination with the competent Iranian authorities,” Araghci added.
In the call Lavrov “emphasized the necessity of maintaining the ceasefire and preventing a recurrence of armed confrontation in the Middle East,” according to Russian state news agency TASS.
Ex-US general explains why reopening Strait of Hormuz is harder than blocking Iran’s ports
Retired Gen. Wesley Clark told CNN that reopening the Strait of Hormuz by force is “a much, much tougher problem” for the US than keeping Iran’s ports closed, adding that the waterway is more useful to Iran “than a nuclear weapon.”
“I don’t know if we have a military option really to do it,” he told CNN’s Pamela Brown.
Clark, a former NATO Supreme Allied commander, outlined an array of obstacles the US military is facing:
He noted that the Iranians also have Chinese technology and have “real-time observation of our fleet as we’re moving in” the strait.
He said that if the US were to use force to attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, “this would be a real dogfight if we went in there.”
“This is not the late 1980s. This is not the tanker war. This is something entirely different,” Clark added.
He added, “They know we don’t want to commit ground troops. They know we don’t want to take losses. We don’t want to get our ships close enough to be hit by their missiles … so this is a real tough military problem. That’s unfortunate because that’s driving their stance in the negotiations.”
Iranian president says Tehran will not “submit to force,” cites deep mistrust of US
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said today that his country maintains “deep historical mistrust” of the US government, and he criticized what he called “unconstructive and contradictory signals” from American officials.
“Honoring commitments is the basis of meaningful dialogue,” Pezeshkian wrote Monday in a post on X. He added that the mixed messages from US officials “carry a bitter message; they seek Iran’s surrender.”
“Iranians do not submit to force,” he said.
Second round of direct Israel-Lebanon talks scheduled for Thursday, officials say
A second round of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon is scheduled for Thursday in Washington, DC, according to both an Israeli official and an official from the US State Department.
The first meeting between officials from the two countries took place last Tuesday, with Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh attending the talks. The talks will again be at the ambassador level, the officials said.
The office of Lebanon’s president said earlier today that the country’s delegation will be led by Simon Karam, a former Lebanese ambassdor to the United States.
“The objective of the negotiation option is to halt hostile actions, end the Israeli occupation of southern areas, and deploy the army up to the internationally recognized southern borders,” President Joseph Aoun said.
He added that US President Donald Trump had “intervened with Israel for a ceasefire and to prepare to launch a negotiations track.”
The State Department official said that the US “welcomes the productive engagement that began on April 14,” adding that “we will continue to facilitate direct, good-faith discussions between the two governments.”
Prior to last week’s talks, Israel and Lebanon had not held direct talks in decades.
Trump says ceasefire expires Wednesday but it's "highly unlikely" he would extend it further
US President Donald Trump said he now considers the ceasefire with Iran over “Wednesday evening Washington time” but that it’s “highly unlikely” he would extend it further if a deal is not reached.
It’s “highly unlikely that I’d extend it” Trump told Bloomberg in a phone interview. The ceasefire was originally slated to last two weeks and began the evening of April 7.
“I’m not going to be rushed into making a bad deal. We’ve got all the time in the world,” Trump said in the interview.
When asked if he would expect the fighting to resume immediately if they fail to reach an agreement, Trump said, “If there’s no deal, I would certainly expect.”
Previously, Trump has gone back and forth on whether he would agree to extend the ceasefire. In the course of one question-and-answer session with reporters last week, he was asked five separate times whether he would extend the ceasefire, and offered three different answers.
Cracks appear among Persian Gulf nations on Iran strategy, expert says
Persian Gulf nations are growing increasingly divided over their stance on Iran: While some countries want to see the war end with Iran deeply weakened, others favor diplomatic agreements, and some remain unclear, a Middle East expert told CNN’s Becky Anderson.
“The Gulf states are in fact deeply divided about what they want to see happen next,” said Hasan Alhasan, a fellow for Middle East policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
United Arab Emirates: “The UAE has been consistent from the early days of the war, having been on the receiving end of the majority of Iranian attacks. They would like to see this war through and see Iran thoroughly defanged,” he said.
Bahrain: “This is a position that Bahrain also is rather aligned with,” he added, noting that Bahrain recently drafted a United Nations Security Council resolution to forcefully reopen the global trade artery the Strait of Hormuz.
Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait: In contrast, neighboring nations like Qatar and Oman have called for diplomatic solutions to end the war, while Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have shown “ambivalence” regarding their stance, as the Gulf continues to suffer economically, according to Alhasan.
“Oman and Qatar have been more vocal about the need to ensure an immediate de-escalation and to bring about a ceasefire and an end to this conflict,” he said. “There’s been quite a bit of ambivalence from the Saudis and Kuwaitis, and we’re not exactly sure where they stand.”
Vance expected to depart Tuesday for Iran war talks in Pakistan, sources say
Vice President JD Vance is currently expected to depart Washington on Tuesday to travel to Pakistan to take part in the latest round of talks with Iran, people familiar with the plans told CNN.
A second round of talks between the US and Iranian delegations is currently planned for Wednesday in Islamabad, they said, but they noted that the situation remains fluid due to continued heated public rhetoric by both the US and Iranians.
The White House told CNN there is no formal word on timing but added, “We expect the delegation to be on the road soon but unclear when.”
President Donald Trump told the New York Post in a phone interview Monday morning that the delegation was “heading over now” to Pakistan and would “be there tonight.” But those comments appeared to be premature.
The end of the two-week ceasefire is looming. Here's what we know
As the US and Iran squabble ahead of another potential round of talks, the looming expiration of a two-week ceasefire between the two nations is creating pressure to find a resolution.
As of now, the truce — which Trump announced April 7 — is set to end Tuesday evening ET. Officials have not said whether it expires at exactly the time Trump announced it (6:32 p.m. ET) or at midnight. Either time would be Wednesday morning, April 22, in Iran.
Trump has gone back and forth on whether he would agree to extend the ceasefire.
In the course of one question-and-answer session with reporters last week, he was asked five separate times whether he would extend the ceasefire, and offered three different answers:
“If there’s no deal, fighting resumes,” he said definitively at one point.
Later, he allowed he would offer an extension if necessary: “If we need to, I would do that.”
In another answer, he suggested the question was moot, given the state of negotiations: “We’ll see. I don’t know that we’ll have to. Ideally we won’t.”
Since then, Iran has cast doubt on its willingness to return to talks. And Trump has renewed his threats to take out bridges and power plants in Iran if a deal isn’t struck.
“NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy,” he wrote on Truth Social, saying Iran had violated the ceasefire by firing on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has made those maximalist threats multiple times before, only to back away.
Egypt continuing efforts to bring US and Iran to negotiating table, source says
Egypt is continuing efforts to bring the United States and Iran back to the negotiating table in coordination with Pakistan, a regional source familiar with the talks told CNN.
Amid confusion surrounding the upcoming negotiations and with the ceasefire between Iran and the US nearing expiry, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said today that there are no immediate plans for a second round of talks. Last week, US President Donald Trump stated that the blockade on Iran would continue even after Tehran declared the Strait of Hormuz open, causing prospects for negotiations to break down.
The Egyptians, who suffered economically from the conflicts, had ramped up efforts since 2025 to help mediate between Iran and the United States. Last year, diplomats in Cairo brokered a key agreement between Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and this month, Egypt worked closely with Pakistan to help de-escalate the conflict between the US and Iran.
On Sunday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty spoke with his Pakistani counterpart, Muhammad Ishaq Dar, on efforts to “advance the diplomatic track” between Washington and Tehran, a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.
“Both ministers expressed their hope for a second round of negotiations that would contribute to reaching understandings leading to a ceasefire, de-escalation, and an end to the war,” the statement said.
Trump contradicts his energy secretary on gas prices: "He's wrong"
US President Donald Trump contradicted his own Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who had warned it may be next year before gas prices come down to pre-Iran war levels.
“No, I think he’s wrong on that. Totally wrong,” Trump said in a phone interview with The Hill.
Wright said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday that Americans might not see gas prices fall below $3 per gallon until 2027, even with the potential opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said the prices will fall “as soon as this ends,” referring to the war with Iran.
How US-Iran peace talks have developed since the start of the ceasefire
The two-week expiry date of the current ceasefire between the US and Iran is fast approaching.
Talks held between officials in Islamabad earlier this month wrapped up without any path towards a more final end to the conflict, and there are conflicting reports on whether more negotiations will take place this week, with a US delegation expected in Pakistan in the coming days.
Here’s a look at what has happened with the talks since the ceasefire was announced:
- April 7: US President Donald Trump warns that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not agree to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Hours later, a two-week ceasefire between Tehran and Washington is announced.
- April 8: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says ceasefire violations “have been reported at a few places across the conflict zone” which “undermine the spirit of peace process.”
- April 11: US and Iranian officials meet for face-to-face talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, lasting 21 hours.
- April 12: US Vice President JD Vance announces the sides have “not reached an agreement,” largely because of Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear program. The leader of the Iranian negotiators, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, says the US failed to gain the trust of the Iranian side. Later in the day, Trump says the ceasefire is still “holding well.”
- April 13: The US implements a blockade of Iranian ports, as a US official tells CNN that US and Iran are still engaged in talks. Trump also says that if a deal is not reached by the end of the ceasefire, “it won’t be pleasant” for Iran.
- April 17: After Iran says it will reopen the Strait of Hormuz in response to a separate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Trump says the US’ blockade of Iranian ports will continue until a final deal to end the war is agreed. Iran says it will close the strait again if the blockade continues.
- April 18: Iran says it is once again shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, blaming the US for “breaches of trust.” Trump says that negotiations are still ongoing but shows frustration, saying Iran “got a little cute” when closing the strait again. Ghalibaf says the US and Iran are “still far from a final agreement” in an interview with state television.
- April 19: Trump says US representatives will be traveling to Islamabad, Pakistan, for a second round of negotiations with Iran. Iranian sources familiar with the negotiations tell CNN that a delegation representing Tehran will also be traveling to Pakistan for talks, though Iranian state media reports that Iran’s presence in Islamabad is not confirmed.
- April 20: Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei says they “as of now” have “no plans for the next round of negotiations,” adding: “We don’t believe in deadlines or ultimatums to secure Iran’s national interests.”
CNN’s Aileen Graef, Kit Maher, Sophia Saifi, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Sophie Tanno, Kevin Liptak, Tim Lister, Aida Karimi, Riane Lumer, Alayna Treene, Elise Hammond, Nadeen Ebrahim, Adam Pourahmadi, Donald Judd, Alejandra Jaramillo and Mitchell McCluskey contributed to this reporting.
China's Xi says choked Strait of Hormuz must open as US and Iran trade barbs
Chinese leader Xi Jinping warned that the Strait of Hormuz must be fully open for vessels, in his most explicit comments on the choked waterway, as the US and Iran remain locked in disagreement over the movement of shipping in the Gulf .
“The Strait of Hormuz should remain open to normal navigation, which serves the shared interests of countries in the region and the wider international community,” Xi said during a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
Xi reiterated Beijing’s call for a ceasefire to end hostilities and called for “all efforts conducive to restoring peace.”
The US seizure of an Iran-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday has thrown a second round of ceasefire talks between Tehran and Washington into doubt. The waterway between Iran and Oman typically carries one fifth of global oil and gas supplies.
Xi’s comments are the latest sign of urgency in Beijing’s messaging around the need to end the conflict. The Chinese leader last week announced a four-point proposal for peace in the Middle East.
The Chinese economy has been relatively insulated from global price shocks, thanks to large oil and gas stockpiles, but has begun to see higher energy costs ripple through the economy. China is the biggest buyer of Iranian crude oil.
A look at the latest Middle East developments, as uncertainty over peace talks continues
We’ve been bringing you updates today on a potential second round of talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan this week — something US President Donald Trump has said is happening but Iranian officials have denied.
We’ve also been reporting on developments surrounding an Iran-flagged cargo ship that US forces seized in the Gulf of Oman yesterday.
If you’re just joining us, here’s a look at what’s been going on so far today:
- Confusion grew over the status of peace talks as Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson insisted today that there were no immediate plans for a second round of negotiations.
- Some hours later, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country needs to end the war with the US and Israel as swiftly as possible to focus on the bigger task of reconstruction. He has no direct role in negotiations with the United States.
- The Strait of Hormuz is virtually empty for the third consecutive day, as Iran and the US remain locked in disagreement over the movement of shipping through the Gulf.
- After the US Navy seized an Iranian cargo ship yesterday, oil prices once again rose as hopes that an end to the war might come soon were dashed.
- Tehran “will take the necessary action” against US forces, Iranian state news reported today, after the US capture of the Iran-flagged vessel.
- Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has said his country’s peace talks with Israel should be separate from any negotiations on resolving the conflict with Iran.
- Israel’s military issued an “urgent” warning to residents of southern Lebanon today, directing them not to move south of a line of villages or approach the Litani River, citing safety risks.
- Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar called the damaging of a Christian symbol by an Israel Defense Forces soldier in southern Lebanon “grave and disgraceful” in a post on X.
CNN’s Nadeen Ebrahim, Tim Lister, Aida Karimi, Hanna Ziady, Sana Noor Haq, Charbel Mallo, Tamara Qiblawi, Lex Harvey and Eugenia Yosef contributed to this reporting.
Iran's president says war must end to focus on rebuilding
Iran needs to end the war against the United States and Israel as swiftly as possible to focus on the bigger task of reconstruction, according to President Masoud Pezeshkian.
In a series of meetings with public workers in Tehran, Pezeshkian said the country’s leadership needed to be honest to preserve public trust.
Striking a more moderate tone than others in the regime’s leadership, Pezeshkian said that while Iran must resist “excessive demands, we must recognize that continuing the conflict benefits no one — not us, not the other side, and not the future of the region or coming generations.”
In another meeting, he said that “every rational and diplomatic path must be used to reduce tensions.”
“After the end of hostilities, the country will face challenges in reconstruction, securing financial resources, and controlling the market,” he told firefighters in the capital, according to Iranian media.
Pezeshkian is regarded as more moderate than other members of the leadership who have long-standing links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. But he has no direct role in negotiations with the United States, nor the final say in decisions on ending the conflict.
During a visit to the Justice Ministry, Pezeshkian said that while some problems caused by the conflict had been managed, reforms were needed.
“People must be informed of the realities of the country. Providing inaccurate information or unrealistic promises not only does not help resolve issues but will also weaken public trust,” he said.
Iran’s cohesion required “honesty in speech, transparency in performance, and strengthening public trust,” he added.
Some context: Iran was in deep economic crisis even before the conflict began, and its currency has weakened dramatically this year.
The government estimated last week that the war has inflicted $270 billion in damage on Iran without providing details. Israeli strikes have caused severe damage to the critical steel and petrochemical industries and other infrastructure.
How things have developed since the US seized an Iran-flagged cargo ship yesterday
US President Donald Trump announced yesterday that his country’s forces fired on and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship after it tried to get past the US’ naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman.
Here’s a look at developments surrounding the vessel since the US captured it:
- In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced the seizure of the Iranian-flagged ship, writing that the vessel, “nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them.”
- In a post on X shortly after Trump’s announcement, US Central Command said that a US destroyer had fired “several rounds” towards the Iranian-flagged ship, called “Touska,” after it “failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period.”
- Iran’s military warned it would respond, calling the US’ actions “maritime highway robbery,” according to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB.
- Night video footage released by CENTCOM showed US Marines approaching the vessel. The video shows helicopters flying over the cargo ship and a bird’s eye view of metal containers below, with one person dropping towards them via a rope.
- Naval experts told CNN that the Touska will be taken to an anchorage or port for inspection. Once that is done and its cargo can be determined, they said the ship could eventually become property of the US government as a “prize.”
- Iran’s state-affiliated news agency Tasnim reported today that Tehran “will take the necessary action” against US forces in response to the ship’s seizure. However, the “safety of the families and crew of the vessel” needs to be ensured beforehand, Tasnim added.
CNN’s Alejandra Jaramillo, Lauren Chadwick, Nechirvan Mando, Max Saltman Laura Sharman, Ally Barnard, Brad Lendon and Sana Noor Haq contributed to this reporting.
“You feel like you’re in Gaza”: Lebanese man recalls emotional toll of Israeli destruction
Blackened trees, layers of ashen rubble and half-standing apartment blocks line parts of Lebanon – where residents are struggling to wade through the wreckage of Israeli strikes.
One resident in the coastal city of Sidon said the scale of destruction mirrors that of Gaza – where two years of Israeli bombing and siege has rendered swathes of the enclave uninhabitable for the more than 2.2 million Palestinian people there.
Entire communities have been erased, the health care system weakened and at least 2,294 people killed in Lebanon after Israeli forces launched strikes against Hezbollah in reponse to the Iranian-backed militant group’s firing of projectiles into northern Israel.
Habli has spent the past several weeks trying to rescue animals from the debris of buildings razed by Israeli strikes in parts of Lebanon – including the capital, Beirut, the suburb of Dahiyeh and the southern city of Nabatieh. Many owners were forced to flee in haste to improvised shelters and could not take their pets, he told CNN.
“We feel upset for the people who were displaced and are sitting in tents with no one caring for them,” added Habli. “Many people left their animals behind. So these are weak creatures, and there is no one to defend them.”
Lebanon-Israel talks separate from Iran conflict, Lebanese president says
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has said his country’s peace talks with Israel should be separate from any negotiations on resolving the conflict with Iran.
Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors met in Washington last week – the first bilateral meeting between the two governments in more than 40 years.
In a post on X Monday, Aoun said that “the upcoming negotiations are separate from any other negotiations because Lebanon faces two options: either the continuation of the war with all its humanitarian, social, economic and sovereignty repercussions, or negotiation to put an end to this war and achieve sustainable stability.”
Aoun’s government is committed to disarming Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, as a military force. But Iran has linked the two conflicts, insisting on a halt to Israeli strikes on the group as a condition for the ceasefire with the US that began nearly two weeks ago.
He added that US President Donald Trump had “intervened with Israel for a ceasefire and to prepare to launch a negotiations track.”
“Communications will continue between us to maintain the ceasefire and begin negotiations,” Aoun said.
The negotiations might continue this week, with no exact date set yet, a source told CNN. The first stage will be between ambassadors and the second will be handled by a a delegation led by ambassador Simon Karam.
“I have chosen negotiation, and I am full of hope that we will be able to save Lebanon,” Aoun said in his X post.
The speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told Pakistani mediators last week that Lebanon must be included if a “comprehensive ceasefire” between Iran and the United States is to be negotiated.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the Israeli military will not withdraw from its positions in southern Lebanon during the 10-day ceasefire, which is due to expire at the end of this week.
Vance, Witkoff and Kushner due in Pakistan for second round of Iran peace talks
US President Donald Trump announced yesterday that officials from his country would be traveling to Islamabad, Pakistan this week for “negotiations.”
Iranian officials told CNN yesterday that a delegation from Tehran would also be making its way to Pakistan, though Iranian state media reports then cast doubt on whether Iran would take part in what would be a second round of negotiations.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said earlier they “as of now” have “no plans for the next round of negotiations.”
Here’s a look at the delegation expected to participate in the talks, should they happen, on behalf of the US:
- JD Vance: The US vice president, a one-time Iran war skeptic, was involved in securing the current two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, as well as the recent ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, a senior administration official told CNN. Last month, we reported that Iranian representatives preferred to engage with Vance over other US officials.
- Steve Witkoff: A wealthy real estate developer, Witkoff has been friends with US President Donald Trump for decades. Alongside Kushner, he helped negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza, and has also sat down for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the war in Ukraine.
- Jared Kushner: Kushner is the husband of Trump’s daughter Ivanka. He served as a chief Middle East negotiator in Trump’s first term and built deep relationships with leaders in the region, having informally advised administration officials on negotiations with Arab leaders, Trump administration officials and people close to Kushner told CNN last year.
CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Kylie Atwood, Stephen Collinson and Alayna Treene contributed to this reporting.
What the US and Iran have said about a second round of peace talks
President Donald Trump announced yesterday that US representatives would be traveling to Islamabad, Pakistan, for a second round of negotiations with Iran this week.
Though Iranian sources familiar with the negotiations told CNN that a delegation representing Tehran would also be traveling to Pakistan for the talks, Iranian officials have since denied negotiations will be going ahead.
Here’s a look at what both sides have said since Trump’s announcement yesterday:
- In a lengthy Truth Social post yesterday morning, Trump said a US delegation was traveling to Islamabad for the talks. “We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,” the president said.
- Iranian sources familiar with the negotiations told CNN that an Iranian delegation would be traveling to Islamabad on Tuesday. The sources expected the team to be the same as in the last round of talks.
- Though Trump initially told reporters that US Vice President JD Vance would not be attending the negotiations, the White House told CNN that Vance would in fact be present for the talks in Islamabad.
- Iranian state media reported that Iran’s presence in Islamabad was not confirmed, with some outlets saying that, as long as a US blockade of Iranian ports continued, a second round of talks would not take place.
- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a phone call with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian yesterday, according to a Pakistani readout of the conversation. The readout did not include any hints as to when the next round of negotiations might be.
- Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said this morning that his country has “no plans for the next round of negotiations,” adding: “We don’t believe in deadlines or ultimatums to secure Iran’s national interests.”
CNN’s Alejandra Jaramillo, Sophia Saifi, Julia Benbrook, Alayna Treene, Ivana Kottasová, Max Saltman and Nadeen Ebrahim contributed to this reporting.
