Amid fragile calm, António Guterres urged constructive U.S.- Iran talks, while Pope Leo XIV warned violence is spreading. Lebanon's President said an Israeli strike killed 13 security personnel in Nabatieh.
An Iranian negotiating delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf arrived in Islamabad on Friday for peace talks with the United States, Iranian media reported on Friday, adding that negotiations would begin if Washington accepted Tehran's "preconditions."
The delegation includes senior political, military and economic officials, including Iranian foreign minister, defence council secretary, central bank governor and several members of parliament.
U.S.-Iran peace talks were a make or break to achieve a permanent ceasefire, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said. The talks are held tomorrow.
In a separate announcement, the government has cut prices of diesel to $1.38 per litre and petrol to $1.31 per litre.
Internet observatory website NetBlocks says the general public have been blocked from accessing information outside the regime's control for 42 days.
⚠️ Update: The internet blackout in #Iran is now in its 42nd day after 984 hours. While the general public are restricted to the local National Information Network, chosen users are whitelisted by the regime to deliver alternative narratives to the outside world via social media. pic.twitter.com/MOcSvn09i4 — NetBlocks (@netblocks) April 10, 2026
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the U.S.-Iran talks in Islamabad slated to begin on Saturday were a make or break to achieve a permanent ceasefire in the weeks-long Middle East conflict.
In a separate set of measures announced during his address, the government also cut prices of diesel to 385 rupees ($1.38) per litre and petrol to 366 rupees per litre.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed upcoming U.S.-Iran talks mediated by Pakistan, urging both sides to engage constructively to prevent further escalation, according to his spokesman.
Guterres “calls on the parties to seize this diplomatic opportunity, to engage in good faith towards a lasting and comprehensive agreement with a view to de-escalation and the prevention of hostilities,” according to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.
Pope Leo XIV said on X that the situation in the Middle East remains delicate, as a ceasefire holds ahead of upcoming talks.
“Absurd and inhuman violence is spreading ferociously through the sacred places of the Christian East,” he said.
Military action, he added, will not “create space for freedom or times of peace” and he called for dialogue and coexistence.
Joseph Aoun said on Friday that 13 state security personnel were killed in an Israeli strike on a government building in the southern city of Nabatieh.
In a statement, the Lebanese president condemned what he described as continued Israeli attacks and warned that targeting state institutions would not deter Lebanon from defending its sovereignty.
Kuwait’s military said on Friday that an Iranian attack targeted several vital National Guard facilities, wounding multiple personnel and causing significant material damage.
Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Friday that two previously agreed measures (a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets) must be implemented before any negotiations can begin.
In a post on X, the Iranian parliament speaker warned that talks should not proceed until these commitments are fulfilled.
U.S. negotiators plan to seek the release of Americans detained in Iran as part of upcoming talks aimed at ending the war, according to a report by The Washington Post citing people briefed on the plans.
The move signals that humanitarian issues, particularly detainees, are expected to feature alongside broader security and ceasefire discussions in the negotiations.
Smartwings said on Friday it will resume regular flights to Tel Aviv starting April 15, becoming one of the first carriers to restore consistent service to Israel amid ongoing regional tensions.
The airline plans to operate seven flights per week while closely monitoring the security situation and adhering to guidance from authorities.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Friday that he is looking forward to upcoming negotiations with Iran and expects the talks in Islamabad to be positive, just before departing Washington for Pakistan.
The vice president is set to lead the U.S. delegation in the talks aimed at stabilising the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire and addressing broader regional tensions, according to officials and diplomatic sources.
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained limited on Friday, with most vessels sailing in the past 24 hours linked to Iran, according to ship-tracking data.
Analysts from Kpler and Lloyd’s List Intelligence reported that three tankers along with a bunkering vessel and a smaller oil ship departed Iranian waters.
In addition, four dry bulk carriers were recorded sailing, including one loaded with iron ore bound for China, while broader commercial shipping activity outside Iranian-linked movements remained subdued despite the recent two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire.
India said on Friday it is “deeply concerned” by reports of rising civilian casualties in Lebanon following two days of heavy Israeli bombardment that reportedly killed more than 300 people.
The Indian Foreign Ministry stressed that protection of civilians must remain the foremost priority and reiterated that respect for international law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity is essential.
The comments come as Israel continues its operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah, amid an already fragile U.S.–Iran ceasefire.
Germany is not facing any oil supply shortage despite market turbulence linked to the Middle East crisis, a spokesperson for the country’s Economy Ministry said on Friday.
The official added that parts of a previously prepared plan to release strategic reserves were ultimately not used.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday that he discussed military capabilities and the logistics of securing vessel movement through the Strait of Hormuz in a call with Donald Trump a day earlier.
Speaking during a visit to the Middle East, Starmer said the UK and its partners are building a coalition of countries working on both a political and diplomatic plan, as well as practical military options to ensure safe navigation through the critical shipping route.
He added that the conversation focused on “a practical plan” for maritime security in the strait.
World Health Organization said on Friday it has received assurances that two hospitals in Beirut will not be targeted following an Israeli evacuation order issued amid escalating hostilities.
The hospitals (Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Al Zahraa Hospital) are treating an estimated 450 patients who have not been evacuated due to the difficulty of moving critically ill individuals, according to Dr Abdinasir Abubakar, the WHO’s representative in Lebanon.
Lebanon is preparing to participate in a meeting in Washington next week with U.S. and Israeli representatives to discuss and potentially announce a ceasefire, a senior Lebanese official told Reuters on Friday. The exact date has not yet been confirmed.
The official added that Beirut’s position is that a ceasefire must come first as a precondition for any broader negotiations aimed at reaching a more comprehensive agreement with Israel.
World Food Programme warned on Friday that Lebanon is facing a growing food security crisis as the Iran-related war continues to disrupt supply chains and restrict the flow of goods into the country.
Speaking via video link from Beirut, WFP country director Allison Oman said the situation is no longer only a displacement crisis but is rapidly becoming a wider food emergency.
She noted that food prices are rising sharply while demand is increasing among displaced families, making basic goods increasingly unaffordable and deepening humanitarian pressure across Lebanon.
John Healey said on Friday that the United States remains “absolutely locked” into NATO, seeking to reassure allies amid speculation over potential troop reductions in Europe.
His comments followed a report suggesting that Donald Trump had discussed options for scaling back U.S. military deployments on the continent.
Speaking at the London Defence Conference, the UK Defence Secretary stressed that while Europe must take on more responsibility for its own security, Washington continues to make “massive contributions” to the alliance.
TotalEnergies said on Friday that one processing train at the SATORP refinery in Saudi Arabia had been damaged following incidents overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, prompting a precautionary shutdown of units.
The refinery, jointly operated with Saudi Aramco under the SATORP venture, is located in the eastern industrial city of Jubail.
TotalEnergies said it is currently assessing the impact on operations.
Anwar Gargash said on Friday (10 April) that the United Arab Emirates will reassess its regional and global relationships in light of the ongoing Middle East crisis, determining which partners it can rely on going forward.
Speaking in a statement, the senior UAE presidential adviser said this review would include economic and financial structuring aimed at further strengthening the country’s model.
Oil prices rose on Friday amid fresh worries about Saudi supply after attacks on energy sites, as doubts grew over a fragile ceasefire and tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained tight.
Brent was up 0.87% at $96.75 a barrel by 08:47 Moscow time, while WTI gained 0.69% to $98.55, even though both benchmarks were still down about 11% for the week, the biggest weekly fall since June 2025.
Saudi state media said the strikes cut output capacity by about 600,000 barrels a day and reduced flows through the East–West pipeline by roughly 700,000 barrels a day, prompting analysts to warn of further disruption.
Japan will release an additional 20 days’ worth of oil from its public reserves from May, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told a cabinet meeting on Friday.
The move is aimed at keeping domestic supplies steady as fighting in the Middle East disrupts global markets, with Iran’s near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz still squeezing shipments despite a two-week Iran–U.S. ceasefire.
Japan relies on the Middle East for about 95% of its oil and began releasing reserves on 16 March under a plan to make 50 days of supply available; the extra 20 days would be on top of that.
According to Takaichi, as of 7 April, Japan had 228 days of oil in reserve, including 143 days in the public stockpile, which will be the source of the new release.
Israel’s military said on Friday that Hezbollah had fired a missile at Israel, setting off air-raid sirens in parts of the country, including Tel Aviv. The missile was intercepted, according to The Times of Israel.
Hezbollah said it had targeted Israeli military infrastructure in the northern city of Haifa late on Thursday, though it was not immediately clear whether it was referring to the same incident. Israel’s military said it struck about 10 Hezbollah launchers after rockets were fired towards northern Israel.
The exchanges come after Israel’s heaviest bombardment of Lebanon during the war, which Lebanese officials said killed more than 300 people on Wednesday. They also come ahead of planned Iran–U.S. talks in Pakistan, following what was described as an agreement to a two-week ceasefire.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he had instructed officials to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would include disarming Hezbollah.
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U.S. President Donald Trump has said, “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon”, after The Wall Street Journal reported he had “declared premature victory in Iran”.
In a statement, Mr Trump rejected that characterisation, saying: “Actually, it is a victory, and there’s nothing ‘premature’ about it.”
He criticised the newspaper’s editorial board as “one of the worst and most inaccurate”, and said oil would “very quickly” start flowing again, “with or without the help of Iran”, adding that it “makes no difference” to him either way. He did not give further details to support his claims.
Kuwait’s army says its air defence systems have intercepted drone attacks that entered the country’s airspace and targeted several “vital facilities”.
In a statement posted on X, the armed forces said it was responding to the attacks. The Kuwait National Guard later reported that one of its facilities was hit, causing extensive material damage.
Saudi Arabia said on Thursday that operations had been halted at several energy facilities following a wave of attacks across the kingdom. The state news agency Saudi Press Agency, citing an official at the Ministry of Energy, said the strikes targeted critical oil and gas production, transport and refining sites, as well as petrochemical and power facilities in Riyadh, the Eastern Province and Yanbu Industrial City. One Saudi employee was killed and seven others were injured.
The attacks disrupted key infrastructure, including a pumping station on the East–West pipeline, cutting flows by around 700,000 barrels a day, and production facilities at Manifa and Khurais, reducing output by a combined 600,000 barrels a day.
Major refineries were also affected, along with processing facilities at Al Ju‘aymah, disrupting exports of fuel products, LPG, and natural gas liquids. The source warned of supply shortages, slower recovery and increased volatility in global oil markets, though no timeline for the attacks was given.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau summoned Iraq’s ambassador to Washington, Nizar Khirullahon, on Thursday following a drone strike on a major U.S. diplomatic facility in Baghdad, the State Department said.
The U.S. embassy in Baghdad had earlier said Iran-aligned “terrorist militias” carried out multiple drone attacks near the Baghdad diplomatic support centre and Baghdad International Airport on Wednesday.
The State Department said Landau acknowledged efforts by Iraqi security forces to respond to the incidents but stressed what it called the Iraqi government’s failure to prevent the attacks.
Washington said it expects Baghdad to take concrete steps to dismantle Iran-aligned militia groups, adding that some elements linked to the Iraqi state continue to provide political, financial and operational cover for them.
Lebanon is awaiting formal notification from the United States on the timing and location of possible direct negotiations with Israel, a senior Lebanese official said on Thursday evening, Anadolu reports
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the date and venue for the talks have not yet been set and that Beirut expects to receive official word from Washington overnight or by Friday morning.
Discussions on the negotiation framework and other details will follow once notification is received. The source added that President Joseph Aoun and the Lebanese government favour pursuing the option of direct negotiations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday held a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which they discussed the two‑week ceasefire between the United States and Iran and wider regional security issues.
According to a statement from Türkiye’s communications directorate, Erdoğan said Ankara, along with other concerned countries, had made “intensive efforts” to help bring about the ceasefire.
He said the upcoming talks between Tehran and Washington should be fully utilised to achieve lasting peace and stability, stressing the importance of “not giving opportunity to those who want to sabotage” the process.
Erdoğan expressed Türkiye’s readiness to offer “all possible support” in the next phase, reiterated his condolences to the Iranian people for their losses, and said Türkiye’s goal was to help foster a new climate of dialogue and common sense in the region.
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Asha Bhosle, the legendary Indian playback singer whose voice defined generations of Bollywood music, has died at the age of 92 in Mumbai, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across India and beyond.
Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating a 32-hour ceasefire introduced to mark Orthodox Easter on Saturday (11 April). Russian officials said Ukrainian drones attacked targets in the Kursk and Belgorod border regions, injuring five people.
Israel has reprimanded Spain’s most senior diplomat in Tel Aviv after a giant effigy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was blown up in a Spanish town.
Hungarians vote in elections on Sunday that could see the end of hard right nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s more than 15 year rule. Opinion polls show Orbán’s Fidesz party trailing 45-year-old Péter Magyar’s centre-right opposition Tisza party.
Hungarians vote in elections on Sunday that could see the end of hard right nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s more than 15 year rule. Opinion polls show Orbán’s Fidesz party trailing 45-year-old Péter Magyar’s centre-right opposition Tisza party.
U.S. and Iranian negotiators held their highest-level talks in half a century in Pakistan on Saturday in an effort to end their six-week war, as President Donald Trump said the U.S. military had begun the process of clearing the Strait of Hormuz.
Amid fragile calm, António Guterres urged constructive U.S.- Iran talks, while Pope Leo XIV warned violence is spreading. Lebanon's President said an Israeli strike killed 13 security personnel in Nabatieh.
Donald Trump’s flagship plan for post-war Gaza has come under scrutiny after reports that its financing is falling short of expectations, claims firmly rejected by the White House-backed Board of Peace.
At least 30 people were killed on Saturday in a stampede at Haiti’s Laferrière Citadel World Heritage Site, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the United States and Iran left peace talks in Islamabad without reaching an agreement early on Sunday, as negotiations extended into a second day, with both sides signalling continued tensions over key issues including the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear policy.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei has declared a “decisive victory” over the U.S. and Israel, signalling a “new phase” in Tehran’s control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Caricatures of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are on display in a metro station in downtown Tehran. The cartoons mock the two leaders for what Tehran says is their failure in waging a war on Iran.
Donald Trump has warned that countries providing military weapons to Iran could face sweeping new tariffs, in a move that risks escalating economic tensions despite a recent ceasefire.
A fragile two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran showed further strain on Friday, a day before they are to negotiate in Pakistan, as Washington accused Tehran of breaching promises on the Strait of Hormuz and Israel struck Lebanon with attacks that Iran has claimed violate the ceasefire.
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