War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has chaired a meeting with Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch and Foreign Office (FO) officials to “review the latest regional developments”.

“The DPM/FM reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to continue playing a constructive role through dialogue and diplomacy to promote peace and stability in the region,” the FO has said on X.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz amid stalled US-Iran peace talks, Anadolu reports.

“I appeal to the parties: open the Strait. Let ships pass. No tolls. No discrimination. Let trade resume. Let the global economy breathe,” Guterres says, addressing a high-level UN Security Council debate on maritime security.

“Since early March, the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has struck at global energy security, food supplies, and trade. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints,” Guterres adds.

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) has just reported that the Lebanese health ministry has updated the death toll for the period since Israel launched its latest offensive, according to Al Jazeera.

The ministry says that 2,521 people have been killed from March 2 to April 27, with a further 7,804 wounded, according to NNA.

At least 22 people have been killed in Israeli attacks over the past two days amid the increasingly fragile ceasefire agreed by Israel and Lebanon.

The White House has told CBS News that it will not conduct its negotiations with Iran through the media, Al Jazeera reports.

“These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the US will not negotiate through the press,” Assistant White House Press Secretary Olivia Wales says in a statement carried by CBS News.

“As the President has said, the United States holds the cards and will only make a deal that puts the American people first, never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” the statement continues.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warns that Hezbollah’s defiance will bring catastrophic consequences for Lebanon, after the group’s leader rejected proposed direct talks between Tel Aviv and Beirut, AFP reports.

“[Hezbollah chief] Naim Qassem is playing with fire, and the fire will burn Hezbollah and all of Lebanon … if the Lebanese government continues to take cover under the wing of the Hezbollah terrorist organisation — fire will break out and engulf the cedars of Lebanon,” Katz tells UN envoy to Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, according to a statement issued by his office.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has briefed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on “his outreach with various regional and international counterparts” regarding the US-Iran peace process, according to the Foreign Office (FO).

Discussing the regional situation in a phone call, “The Egyptian FM appreciated DPM/FM’s efforts and Pakistan’s continued role in advancing dialogue and diplomatic engagement,” the FO says in a post on X.

It adds that both FMs “highlighted the importance of maintaining sustained engagement to support peace and stability in the region and beyond”.

French President Emmanuel Macron says he will talk to Iranian authorities after his two-day trip to Andorra and will insist on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reports.

“We have established a coalition whose purpose is precisely to ensure security, to secure and stabilise, to demonstrate that the international community supports an opening [of the Strait of Hormuz], and so I hope that we will be able to convince the stakeholders in the coming days,” he tells reporters in Andorra.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres says global military spending soared to $2.7 trillion last year, which is 13 times more than all development aid globally.

Addressing a UN conference on reviewing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, he adds that the number of nuclear warheads is “on the rise” for the first time in decades.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran is looking into US President Donald Trump’s request for negotiations, according to a post on the minister’s Telegram account, Reuters reports.

He told reporters in Russia that Trump requested negotiations because the US has not achieved any of its objectives.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns that “the drivers” of nuclear weapons proliferation are accelerating, as he opens a crunch meeting of signatories to the landmark non-proliferation treaty, AFP reports.

“For too long, the Treaty has been eroding. Commitments remain unfulfilled. Trust and credibility are wearing thin. The drivers of proliferation are accelerating. We need to breathe life into the Treaty once more,” Guterres tells the meeting.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette has spoken to Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar about the latest regional developments, according to the Foreign Office (FO).

During a phone conversation, Cooper “appreciated Pakistan’s facilitation and continued efforts to promote dialogue and diplomacy”, the FO says, adding that both top diplomats stressed the importance of sustained engagement for peace and stability, both in the region and beyond.

Iran’s foreign minister says the country is “stable, solid”, during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg, AFP reports citing Russian state TV.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says that due to the war with the United States and Israel, “the world has now realised Iran’s true power” and “it has become clear that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a stable, solid and powerful system.”

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has held a phone call with the US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, regarding US-Iran negotiations and efforts to reduce tensions in the region, Al Jazeera reports, citing a statement by his office.

The foreign minister “stressed the importance of continuing the negotiation approach to consolidate the ceasefire and work to end the war”, the statement says.

“Egypt will continue its tireless efforts in coordination with regional and international partners to push for political solutions that support security and stability,” it adds.

ISLAMABAD: The oil industry has asked the State Bank of Pakistan to extend for two months or “until market conditions stabilise” the permission for the import of petroleum products on cost, insurance and freight (CIF) basis — an arrangement under which buyers assume the responsibility of import costs and final delivery following the arrival of commodities at the destination port.

The request was made by the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) — an association of more than three dozen oil companies and refineries — to SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad in a letter on Monday, with around two weeks left for the 60-day relaxation to end.

It was allowed keeping in view the petroleum import challenges under the prevailing geopolitical conditions, following the OCAC’s call highlighting the difficulty in obtaining adequate marine and war-risk insurance cover.

Marine insurers have either withdrawn or sharply increased war-risk coverage for ships operating in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz due to the US-Israel war on Iran.

The letter to SBP, seen by Dawn, referred to OCAC’s previous appeal made in view of the “extraordinary geopolitical situation in the Middle East”. It said the subsequent permission by the SBP for CIF-based imports for 60 days had been instrumental in enabling refineries and oil marketing companies (OMCs) to secure cargoes under highly challenging market conditions.

However, it said, “the situation in the region remains volatile with no meaningful de-escalation or restoration of normal shipping and insurance conditions. The constraints highlighted earlier — particularly the limited availability and exorbitant cost of marine and war-risk insurance, coupled with continued reluctance of shipowners and suppliers — still persist. Freight rates and war-risk premiums continue to remain elevated, and the operational challenges in executing imports under cost and freight arrangements have not eased.”

The letter stated that the validity of SBP’s circular allowing CIF-based imports of petroleum products was set to expire on May 10.

Meanwhile, it said, “the oil industry anticipates considerable challenges in sustaining uninterrupted supply chains if the current relaxation is continued at this stage”.

“In view of the ongoing certainty and to ensure continuity of fuel supplies critical for national energy security — especially in light of upcoming seasonal demand — it is earnestly requested that the temporary permission for CIF imports of petroleum products (crude oil, refined petroleum products, base oil and allied materials) may kindly be extended for a further period of two months, or until market conditions stabilise,” the letter said.

During his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi thanked Moscow for its support of Tehran and noted that Iran will continue to fight the United States, al Jazeera reports, citing Russian news agency RIA.

The agency adds that he also praised the relations between the two countries and noted that they will strengthen.

“The entire world has been proven that the Iranian people, through their resistance and courage, were able to resist American attacks and American aggression and will be able to endure and survive this period,” Araghchi says.

A senior official from the United Arab Emirates has criticised the country’s Gulf allies over their response to Iranian retaliatory attacks in the region, following the Israeli-US strikes that launched the Middle East war, AFP reports.

Presidential advisor Anwar Gargash says the Gulf states supported each other logistically in the crisis, but has lambasted their political and military response.

“The GCC’s stance was the weakest historically, considering the nature of the attack and the threat it posed to everyone,” Gargash says, referring to the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council.

Gargash adds he “expected such a weak stance from the Arab League”, the 22-member organisation of Middle East and North African nations based in Cairo.

“But I don’t expect it from the GCC, and I am surprised by it,” he tells a conference in Dubai.

Gulf monarchies have always had “difficult relations” with Iran, Gargash says, adding that in recent years they pursued a “containment policy” through mediation, energy partnerships, strategic agreements and, in the case of the UAE, trade ties.

But “these policies have failed miserably, and we are now facing a major reassessment”, he states.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has told Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that Moscow would do everything it could to help secure peace in the Middle East, AFP reports, citing Russian media.

“For our part, we will do everything that serves your interests, the interests of all the people of the region, so that peace can be achieved as soon as possible,” Russian state media quoted Putin as telling Araghchi during their meeting.

Putin also hailed “how courageously and heroically the people of Iran are fighting for their independence and sovereignty”, the TASS news agency reported.

“Russia, just like Iran, intends to continue our strategic relationship,” the Kremlin chief added.

Wizz Air Chief Executive Officer Jozsef Varadi does not think the European budget airline would run out of jet fuel, amid concerns about shortages if the Iran war continues for a longer period, Reuters reports.

He tells reporters that at the $1,500 metric ton level for jet fuel, the price is such that tankers are incentivised to head to the US to collect it, making up for any shortfalls from the Middle East, a major source of jet fuel for European carriers.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has discussed ongoing developments in the Middle East with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, reaffirming Pakistan’s continued commitment to dialogue and diplomacy”, the Foreign Office (FO) says.

“They discussed the latest developments in the region and ongoing efforts to promote peace and stability,” the FO has said on X.

The pair also discussed bilateral ties between Pakistan and Canada, including cooperation in trade, agriculture and other sectors.

Speaking in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi said Moscow and Tehran share a strategic partnership, one that will only become further reinforced, state-run IRNA reports.