Iran-US conflict newest: Tehran ‘lays out demands for US’ in Pakistan – however denies direct talks

“Journalists and media workers play an essential role in putting the spotlight on the devastating reality of war,” read the statement posted on the UK foreign office social media account on Saturday.

“Attacks on journalists in Lebanon, including journalist Amal Khalil, killed in an Israeli strike on 22 April, are unacceptable.

“As co-chairs of the Media Freedom Coalition, the UK and Finland strongly condemn all violence directed against journalists and media workers.

“We call on the Israeli authorities and all other parties to make every effort to ensure that media workers in Lebanon can conduct their work freely and safely.”

The Committee for the Protection of Journalists has warned that Israel is engaging in the “deadliest and most deliberate effort to kill and silence journalists that the CPJ has ever documented”. A record 129 journalists were killed in 2025, according to the CPJ. Two-thirds of those were killed by Israel.

Four people have died in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s state news agency.

It comes two days after a three-week ceasefire extension between Lebanon and Israel was announced by US President Donald Trump on Thursday, following high-level talks at the White House.

The ceasefire has yielded a significant reduction in violence, but attacks have continued in southern Lebanon, where Israeli troops have seized a self-declared buffer zone.

Hostilities between the Iran-aligned armed group Hezbollah and Israel reignited on 2 March, when the group opened fire in support of Iran in the regional war.

Direct US-Iran talks remained uncertain as Iran’s top diplomat arrived in Pakistan ahead of a planned visit by Donald Trump’s envoys, while the eight-week war kept rattling global markets and energy supplies.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on Friday, convening a meeting with Pakistani army chief Asim Munir and interior minister Mohsin Naqvi as part of a diplomatic tour to discuss the ongoing hostilities.

But he is not there for direct talks with the US as the White House confirmed that son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff would be leaving for Islamabad because the Iranians wanted to talk “in person”.

Shweta Sharma reports:

Iranian state media has shared a message by Iran’s top military command on Saturday warning that US forces will face Tehran’s reaction if a US blockade on Iranian ports and coastlines continues.

The military called such actions “piracy”.

The statements come as foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are to meet with officials in Islamabad for a second round of negotiations.

Israel has resumed its attacks on southern Lebanon and has demanded that all civilians evacuate the region.

“We reiterate our confirmation that during the period of the ceasefire agreement, the Israel Defense Forces continue to maintain their positions in southern Lebanon in the face of the ongoing terrorist activities of the Hezbollah organization,” wrote Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee.

“We reiterate and warn that, out of concern for your safety and the safety of your families’ members and until further notice, you are required not to move south of the line of the villages shown and their surroundings.

“Additionally, approaching the area of the Litani River, Wadi Salhania, and Saluki is not permitted.”

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi delivered Tehran’s negotiating demands, as well as its reservations about US demands, to Pakistani officials during his visit to Islamabad on Saturday, a Pakistani source involved in the talks told Reuters.

The Institute for the Study of War reports that Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi and his inner circle have repeatedly blocked attempts by Tehran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and other “pragmatist” officials who are more willing to be flexible with US demands.

“Vahidi appears to have prevailed in this internal power struggle and will likely shape the regime’s approach toward negotiations and the war with a maximalist and uncompromising stance,” it wrote in a note on Friday. “Ghalibaf likely lacks the leverage to alter this trajectory in a meaningful way at this time.”

It follows reports that Ghalibaf had threatened to resign or had actually resigned ahead of a second round of negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Ghalibaf has previously hit out at attempts to split Iran’s political establishment into “hardliners” or “moderates”, writing on Thursday: “In Iran, there are no radicals or moderates; we are all ‘Iranian’ and ‘revolutionary,’ and with the iron unity of the nation and government, with complete obedience to the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, we will make the aggressor criminal regret his actions.”

Turkey could consider taking part in demining operations in the Strait of Hormuz if a deal is agreed between Iran and the United States, foreign minister Hakan Fidan has told reporters in London on Friday.

A technical team was expected to carry out mine‑clearing work in the strait after any agreement, he said, adding that Turkey viewed such efforts positively in principle as a humanitarian duty.

Fidan expressed belief that disagreements over Iran’s nuclear programme could be resolved at the next round of talks in Islamabad.

The Trump administration said on Friday it had imposed sanctions on an independent “teapot” refinery in China for buying billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian oil.

The Treasury Department targeted Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery, which it said is one of Iran’s largest customers of crude oil and petroleum products. The department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said it also imposed sanctions on about 40 shipping companies and vessels that operate as part of Iran’s shadow fleet.