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Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, arrived in Islamabad on the night of Friday, April 24, to discuss with mediators a possible resumption of talks with the United States. However, he made it clear that he has not scheduled a meeting with US authorities. Shortly before, the White House confirmed that Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will travel to Pakistan this Saturday to continue talks with Tehran. Meanwhile, the fragile truce continues in Lebanon, where the Israeli Army ordered a new “evacuation” for a city in the south of the country.

The essentials:

Below, the main news from this Friday, April 24, on the tension in the Middle East, with the fragile truces in Iran and Lebanon as a backdrop:

The Iranian Foreign Minister arrives in Islamabad to discuss the possible resumption of talks with the US.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry reported that an Iranian delegation, led by Minister Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Islamabad on Friday.

Upon arrival, Araghchi was received by Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and other senior officials.

In a statement, it was stated that during the visit, Araghchi will meet senior Pakistani leaders to discuss the latest regional developments and ongoing efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.

According to Pakistani sources, Araqchi has not yet confirmed that he is planning a meeting with the American counterpart, a version that has also been replicated by Iranian state television.

US imposes sanctions on China-based oil refinery and dozens of companies and tankers accused of transporting Iranian oil

Israel kills at least nine Palestinians in Gaza

The fatalities of three Israeli Army attacks included a woman and a child, health officials reported.

An afternoon drone strike near a police checkpoint in northwest Gaza City left two Palestinians dead and two wounded, according to Shifa hospital officials. The Israeli military acknowledged the attack, repeating its rhetoric that it was directed against "terrorists" without providing evidence or further details.

In the evening, another attack targeted a police vehicle in southern Gaza, leaving at least five people dead, according to Nasser hospital officials. A third attack in northern Gaza left a woman and a child dead, health officials at Shifa Hospital reported.

Deadly Israeli attacks pose a near-daily threat in Gaza, where more than 790 Palestinians have died despite a ceasefire with Hamas since October, according to figures from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.

Trump will send Witkoff and Kushner to Pakistan to talk with Iran's foreign minister

Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will travel to Pakistan this Saturday, April 25, to continue talks with Iran, Washington reported in the last few minutes.

White House Press Secretary Karolien Leavitt stated in an interview with 'Fox News Channel' that both will meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. "We hope it will be a productive conversation and that it will allow us to move forward towards an agreement," said Leavitt, who added that Vice President J.D. Vance will not travel this time, but he remains "deeply involved."

Leavitt indicated that Vance will be in the United States, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the president's national security team, in "preparation" to travel to Pakistan "if necessary."

This statement comes hours after the Iranian state press confirmed that its foreign minister is traveling to Islamabad this Saturday and Pakistani sources assured that the objective is to discuss proposals with mediators on a possible new round of talks with Washington.

Netanyahu says Israel, US cooperate fully on Iran

"The same thing happens in Lebanon: we have begun a process to achieve a historic peace between Israel and Lebanon, and it is clear to us that Hezbollah is trying to sabotage it," declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this Friday in a video statement released by his office.

The far-right leader was referring to the direct negotiations that have been taking place between both countries – which do not maintain formal diplomatic relations – for the first time in decades.

Iranian state press confirms that its foreign minister Abbas Araqchi is traveling to Pakistan, mediator against the US.

Iran's state media reports that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi begins a trip that includes visits to Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow. Although they do not indicate any direct meeting with the United States, their first stop is the Pakistani capital, whose government mediates a second round of talks between the two parties.

The information comes shortly after several official sources in Pakistan, who spoke to the Reuters and AP news agencies, indicated that Araqchi is heading to that country to discuss proposals on a possible resumption of dialogues with Washington.

Washington did not issue a direct response to Araqchi's trip, but US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated in a press conference, around the same time the news broke, that Iran had a chance to reach a "good deal" with the United States. "Iran knows it still has an opportunity to choose wisely at the negotiating table. All it has to do is give up a nuclear weapon in a meaningful and verifiable way," he declared.

Hezbollah lawmaker says extension of ceasefire with Israel "makes no sense"

Legislator Ali Fayyadh declared this Friday, April 24, that the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah – agreed between the Lebanese Government and the Administration of Benjamin Netanyahu – extended on Thursday for three weeks, is meaningless as long as Israel continues its attacks, selective assassinations and bombings against Lebanese villages.

Since the initial ten-day truce came into effect last Friday, April 17, both sides have repeatedly violated the ceasefire.

Fayyadh stated that every Israeli attack against any Lebanese target, regardless of its nature, gives his group the right to respond appropriately. The legislator added that any ceasefire that does not constitute a prelude to the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory reaffirms the "inalienable and definitive right" of the Lebanese people to resist the occupation and expel it from their land to restore full Lebanese sovereignty.

Hegseth argues that any new mine laying by Iran would violate the truce with the US.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon this Friday that his country's Armed Forces are prepared to confront any Iranian ship that recklessly and irresponsibly installs more mines.

However, he said he would not speculate on reports suggesting it would likely take six months to clear the strait. The Associated Press reported that the Pentagon provided that timeline in a classified briefing to lawmakers this week.

Hegseth was thus responding to statements by President Trump, who claimed on Thursday to have ordered the armed forces to "shoot and kill" small Iranian vessels laying mines. The Secretary of Defense stressed that the United States is confident of being able to demine any mine it identifies and that he would encourage other countries to participate in this effort.

The Israeli Army confirms the shooting down of a drone over Lebanon

Benjamin Netanyahu's Army reported this Friday in a statement that a drone was shot down in southern Lebanon after the launch of a surface-to-air missile by the Shiite group Hezbollah.

The statement was issued after the pro-Iran movement announced the downing of an Israeli Hermes 450 drone outside the southern city of Tyre.

Hegseth criticizes European partners for not getting involved in Hormuz after the US and Israel started war against Iran

The US defense secretary suggested that America's traditional allies in Europe are acting uncontributing and disloyal by not using their own forces to open the Strait of Hormuz, closed due to President Trump's war on Iran. "We don't have Europe, but they need the Strait of Hormuz much more than we do," Hegseth insisted.

However, European NATO allies, such as the French president, Emmanuel Macron, have stressed the importance of getting involved in the war that was started by the United States and Israel against Iran, on February 28, without consulting them. It is "an operation that they decided to undertake alone," the Elysée leader previously noted.

Iran's de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz came in response to the war against it, a maneuver that has disrupted global energy supplies, especially in Europe. Now, Hegseth's criticism echoes attacks from Trump, who urged other nations to "Get your own oil!" and to "start learning to defend themselves."

Israeli army orders a new "evacuation" in southern Lebanon, a day after extending the truce for three weeks

The Israeli Army this Friday ordered the "evacuation" of the residents of the city of Deir Ames, in the south of Lebanon and north of its self-proclaimed "security zone", announcing that it plans to carry out attacks there.

The announcement comes a day after the governments of Israel and Lebanon extended the ceasefire for three weeks during talks in Washington.

The Israeli Army claimed that Hezbollah operated from the city, without providing evidence or specifying when, warning that any militant activity launched from Deir Ames would provoke Israeli intervention.

An Israeli armored vehicle drives through Lebanon, seen from the Israeli side of the Lebanese border, April 24, 2026. Reuters/Florion Goga.

Hegseth says US blockade of Iranian ports is going global

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared this Friday that the US blockade of Iran is going global, adding that Tehran has the opportunity to reach a "good deal" with Washington.

"Our blockade is growing and spreading globally (...) No one sails from the Strait of Hormuz to any place in the world without the permission of the United States Navy," Hegseth said in front of the press.

According to reports, so far the US Navy has forced 34 ships to return from the Strait of Hormuz.

Pete Hegseth assures that ship transit in the Strait of Hormuz "is happening"

Indonesian blue helmet who had been injured in an attack in Lebanon dies

The UN mission in Lebanon reported this Friday that an Indonesian blue helmet died from injuries suffered in an attack on its base on March 29.

The Indonesian Government strongly condemned once again that Israeli attack in Lebanon that caused the death of a fourth blue helmet from the Asian country, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted this Friday.

The soldier suffered serious injuries due to the explosion of an artillery shell from an Israeli tank on March 29. Three other Indonesian peacekeepers also died from the attack.

Indonesia urged the UN to conduct a thorough, transparent and accountable investigation into the deaths of its UNIFIL peacekeepers.

The Iranian Foreign Minister is expected to arrive in Pakistan this weekend, with a view to talks with the US.

A second round of talks between Iran and the United States could resume in Pakistan, where Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is expected to arrive on the evening of Friday, April 24, according to three Pakistani sources, cited by Reuters and two other Islamabad officials cited by AP.

Two of the sources, from the Pakistani government, indicated that a US logistics and security team was already deployed for possible talks. Tehran has not yet confirmed the official trip of its foreign minister.

The latest round of talks between the two sides was expected to take place last Tuesday, but did not take place. Iran declared it was not yet ready to commit to attending, and the American delegation, led by Vice President J.D. Vance, did not leave Washington.

Welcome to this minute by minute with the main news from the Middle East this Friday, April 24.

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