Iran-US conflict newest: Trump threatens to ‘finish’ conflict if peace talks fail as negotiators arrive in Pakistan | EUROtoday

Senior US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Islamabad forward of talks with Iran, in accordance with Reuters, who cited Pakistani sources aware of the matter.

The two are a part of a broader US delegation led by vice chairman JD Vance, which is anticipated to carry high-level negotiations with Iranian officers geared toward extending a fragile ceasefire after six weeks of battle.

The talks come amid deep disagreements over sanctions, the Strait of Hormuz and regional conflicts, elevating doubts about whether or not a broader deal might be reached.

Witkoff, Trump’s particular envoy, and Kushner have beforehand led backchannel diplomacy with Iran, and are anticipated to play a central position within the negotiations.

US intelligence assessments point out China could also be getting ready to provide air defence techniques to Iran within the coming weeks, in accordance with a report by CNN, citing three individuals aware of the matter.

The potential switch involving shoulder-fired anti-air missiles, or MANPADS, might pose a renewed risk to low-flying US plane if combating resumes after the delicate ceasefire.

People aware of the matter advised the outlet that Beijing could route shipments via third international locations to hide their origin, suggesting an effort to keep up deniability.

China has denied the declare, saying it “has never provided weapons to any party to the conflict” and urging Washington to keep away from “baseless allegations”.

President Donald Trump on 7 April 2026, introduced a ceasefire between the US and Iran, after greater than a month of conflict marked by US and Israeli strikes towards Iranian navy management, Iranian retaliation towards regional oil infrastructure and a world power disaster.

Where might the conflict go subsequent?

The Middle East battle might minimize international development by as much as 1 share level if it continues, World Bank President Ajay Banga has warned, as uncertainty persists regardless of a ceasefire.

With an early finish to the conflict, the hit to development could be smaller, round 0.3 to 0.4 share factors. whereas inflation might rise by 200 to 300 foundation factors, he advised Reuters on Friday.

“The question really is, does this current peace and the negotiations that are going to be happening this ‌weekend – will this lead to a lasting peace and then a reopening of the Strait (of Hormuz)?” ‌mentioned Banga. “If it doesn’t lead to that, and if conflict were to break out again, would that have an even larger impact, or longer-term impact on energy infrastructure?”

Emerging markets face sharper strain, with development projected at 3.65 per cent in 2026 and inflation rising to 4.9 per cent, whereas oil costs have already jumped about 50 per cent.

Shelters for displaced individuals in Lebanon are “severely overcrowded,” the United Nations has warned, as Israeli evacuation orders drive a rising humanitarian disaster.

“Needs in Lebanon exceed the available capacity,” UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric mentioned on Friday, including that almost half of the nation’s public faculties at the moment are getting used as reception centres.

The UN additionally warned the nation’s well being system is underneath extreme pressure, with some hospitals prone to working out of trauma provides inside days.

Up to 1.2 million individuals have been displaced by Israeli assaults, with round 140,000 sheltering in about 680 websites, in accordance with UN figures.

The disaster has intensified amid a pointy rise in casualties, with Lebanese authorities reporting greater than 300 individuals killed in strikes on Wednesday alone.

A possible settlement between the US and Iran is “almost done,” with groundwork for the deal already laid forward of talks in Islamabad.

According to a supply cited by Al Jazeera, preliminary negotiations had been carried out by advance groups earlier than the arrival of US vice chairman JD Vance and Iranian officers, elevating expectations {that a} deal could possibly be signed.

Pakistan is facilitating the method via oblique talks, passing messages between the 2 sides. Its efforts have been backed by international locations together with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, and China, underscoring a broader diplomatic push to convey either side nearer to an settlement.

Violence in Lebanon has continued regardless of the US-Iran ceasefire, with recent Israeli strikes and Hezbollah retaliation reported on Friday.

An Israeli assault on a authorities constructing within the southern metropolis of Nabatieh killed 13 Lebanese state safety personnel, in accordance with president Joseph Aoun.

Hezbollah mentioned it responded by firing rockets into northern Israel.

The escalation follows earlier strikes that killed greater than 350 individuals in densely populated areas hours after the ceasefire was introduced this week, in accordance with Lebanese authorities.

A two-week ceasefire introduced by the United States this week has halted US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, however it has not prolonged to different fronts.

Iran has but to elevate restrictions within the Strait of Hormuz, the place disruption to delivery has hit international power provides.

At the identical time, combating between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon has continued, with Israeli strikes and retaliatory rocket fireplace reported after the truce was introduced.

The US and Israel say the Lebanon battle will not be coated by the ceasefire, whereas Tehran insists it’s a part of the identical conflict, exposing a key divide forward of talks.

A senior US delegation led by vice chairman JD Vance is travelling to Islamabad for negotiations with Iran, as diplomatic efforts intensify to finish the conflict. The staff consists of president Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner.

Iran’s delegation, led by speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and overseas minister Abbas Araqchi, arrived a day earlier.

Pakistan has imposed an unprecedented lockdown within the capital, deploying hundreds of safety personnel forward of the talks, which prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has described as decisive for the battle’s final result.

Hezbollah has mentioned it attacked Israeli troopers in Lebanon, in accordance with The New York Times.

The drone strike focused troops in a home in southern Lebanon, the Iran-backed militant group mentioned, per the NOWin response to Israel’s post-ceasefire assaults within the nation.

Israel has mentioned the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran doesn’t apply to Lebanon, however Iran disagrees.