Pakistan has offered to host talks between the U.S. and Iran to end the Gulf conflict, as tensions remain high despite reports of possible diplomacy and continued military strikes across the region.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday his country was ready to facilitate talks between the U.S. and Iran, as fighting in the Gulf showed no sign of easing.
In a post on X, Sharif said Pakistan supported efforts to pursue dialogue and would be “honoured” to host negotiations, subject to agreement from both sides.
The U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, saying diplomacy over Tehran’s nuclear programme had stalled, although mediator Oman reported progress at the time.
Since then, Iran has targeted countries hosting U.S. bases, hit Gulf energy infrastructure and disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz - a key route for about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas - triggering a sharp rise in energy prices.
A Pakistani government source said discussions over a possible meeting were at an advanced stage, though no agreement had been confirmed.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington and Tehran had held “productive” talks aimed at ending hostilities. However, Iran denied any direct negotiations had taken place, with parliament speaker Mohammad Bāqer Qālibāf dismissing the reports as “fake news”.
Iran’s foreign ministry acknowledged efforts to reduce tensions, but officials said Tehran’s position had hardened since the conflict began, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps exerting greater influence.
Oil prices surged above $114 a barrel on Monday amid fears of supply disruption, before easing slightly but remaining elevated.
Israeli officials said Trump appeared keen to reach a deal, though they doubted Iran would accept U.S. demands, which are expected to include limits on its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
Meanwhile, fighting continued across the region. Israeli strikes hit targets in Tehran, while Iranian missiles triggered air raid sirens in Tel Aviv, damaging buildings but causing no reported deaths.
In north-western Iran, at least eight people were killed and 28 injured in a strike on a residential area in Tabriz, according to local authorities.
The United Arab Emirates said it had intercepted multiple missiles and drones launched from Iran.
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Iran's ports were blocked by the U.S. military on Monday (13 April), President Donald Trump confirmed. Tehran has threatened to retaliate against its Gulf neighbours' ports and a U.S. official said there was continued engagement with Iran, and forward motion on trying to get to an agreement.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned that any Iranian ships approaching ports in the Strait of Hormuz would be "immediately eliminated" on Monday, as the U.S. started its blockade.
Tensions in the Gulf have sharpened dramatically after reports that the United States has begun a blockade of Iranian ports, a move already rippling through global markets and political circles.
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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.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned that any Iranian ships approaching ports in the Strait of Hormuz would be "immediately eliminated" on Monday, as the U.S. started its blockade.
Nine suspects were arrested on Saturday (11 April) in connection with a terror attack targeting a police post in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district.
Millions of Orthodox Christians across the globe celebrated Easter, known as Holy Pascha, on Sunday (12 April) with midnight liturgies, candlelight processions and deeply rooted local traditions reflecting centuries of faith.
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.
An Indian healthcare provider plans to invest $50 million in diagnostic and pharmaceutical projects in Uzbekistan’s Namangan region, aiming to expand access to advanced medical services between 2026 and 2028.
Nine suspects have been formally arrested over last week’s gun attack near Israel’s consulate in Istanbul, judicial officials have said. The assault left one attacker dead and two Turkish police officers lightly wounded.
Azerbaijani and Armenian civil society representatives have convened for a new round of dialogue under the ‘Peace Bridge’ initiative, as both sides seek to sustain engagement ahead of key political developments in the region.
The reopening of Azerbaijan’s embassy in Iran reflects the “special relationship” between the two countries, a regional expert has said.
Cement maker Lafarge was found guilty by a French court on Monday (13 April) of paying millions to jihadist groups, including ISIS, to keep a plant running during the Syrian civil war.
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