War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

Information Minister Ataullah Tarar, speaking to Geo News, also commended the efforts undertaken by PM Shehbaz and CDF Munir.

He said top leadership from both countries had thanked and acknowledged Pakistan for its mediation efforts.

“Any act of mediation cannot be done without trust,” he said, adding that Pakistan had emerged “prominently” in the international arena.

When asked when the Pakistani delegation will leave for Switzerland for the signing ceremony, Tarar said, “We will communicate once confirmation comes in”.

Russia welcomes the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, its foreign ministry says, Reuters reports.

Information Minister Ataullah Tarar says that Pakistan’s role in the signing of the US-Iran agreement is a “moment of pride” for Pakistanis all across the globe.

Speaking to Geo News, the information minister underscored the significance of the day, stressing that the “historic day” will be remembered for all time to come.

“It was a difficult task to bring the US and Iran to an understanding,” he said, adding that the task had previously been considered “impossible”.

Three Saudi-flagged supertankers with six million barrels of crude onboard have sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, ship tracking data shows, according to Reuters.

The sailings from Saudi ports were the biggest departures through the strait in weeks, according to Reuters analysis of shipping movements.

Saudi Arabia has mainly used its Red Sea port terminal of Yanbu to ship out oil due to the conflict.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that it was as ready to begin defining the “concrete steps” that will need to be taken to implement a US-Iran deal, AFP reports.

“Now it’s for us to sit down with our American colleagues, our Iranian colleagues, and start formulating the concrete steps that will have to be to be taken,” IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told reporters in Geneva.

Communications Minister and founder Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) has congratulated PM Shehbaz on signing of the US-Iran agreement, terming it a “monumental breakthrough”.

In a post on X, he said, “The signing of the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’ between the US and the Islamic Republic of Iran represents a monumental breakthrough, demonstrating that dialogue and strategic diplomacy can triumph over conflict.

“By successfully mediating this historic accord, Pakistan has reaffirmed its pivotal role as a cornerstone of regional peace and global stability,” he added.

He congratulated PM Shehbaz for his “visionary statesmanship, tireless leadership, and unwavering commitment to conflict resolution,” adding that under his leadership, Pakistan’s diplomacy had reached “unprecedented heights”.

China has said it “welcomes” news that the United States and Iran signed a deal to end the Middle East war, urging both sides to continue their cooperation in a second round of negotiations, AFP reports.

“China welcomes this development and hopes that all relevant parties —including the US and Iran — will uphold the spirit of their agreement and earnestly honour their commitments,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a news conference, urging Washington and Tehran to “meet each other halfway” in the next stage of talks.

An Israeli drone has carried out an attack on the town of Kfar Tebnit in the Nabatieh district of southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera reports.

Iran’s Abbas Araghchi and Italy’s Antonio Tajani have discussed the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Tehran and Washington in a telephone call, Al Jazeera reports.

The ministers agreed on the importance of maintaining regional stability and security, and emphasised the opportunity created by the deal to consolidate peace, a statement on Araghchi’s Telegram channel said.

Initial talks between the United States and Iran are planned at the Buergenstock mountaintop resort in Switzerland on Friday, following the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Tehran and Washington, the Swiss government has said, Reuters reports.

“As things stand, the plan is still for the US and Iran, along with mediators Pakistan and Qatar and other involved countries, to meet tomorrow at Buergenstock for initial negotiations about implementing the agreement.

“No further information is currently available regarding the schedule and details of this meeting,” the Swiss foreign ministry said in a statement.

The United Nations says its UNIFIL peacekeepers have observed continued “extensive” Israeli military activity in southern Lebanon despite a “reduction in the intensity of hostilities in the area of operations,” Al Jazeera reports.

“This includes high-density armoured movements, large-scale engineering and demolition works, and sustained logistical traffic across the area,” the UN secretary-general’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York.

Germany is deploying two ships to the Red Sea in preparation for a possible military mission in the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reports, citing Germany’s Defence minister Boris Pistorius.

“As we speak, our minesweeper Fulda and the supply ship Mosel are sailing through the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea,” he told reporters as he arrived for a meeting with his Nato counterparts in Brussels.

Pistorius said approval would be needed from Iran and Oman before any participation in a minesweeping operation, and added any mission would also depend on the developments in further talks between Iran and the US.

Estonia’s Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur, speaking at a Nato meeting in Brussels, said that European nations must take part in ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reports.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a phone call last night with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, during which they discussed recent diplomatic developments, according the Foreign Office (FO).

“FM Anita Anand commended Pakistan’s constructive role in supporting diplomatic engagement and mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, which helped facilitate the understanding reached between the two parties,” the FO says in a post on X.

They also discussed the forthcoming engagement between the parties in Burgenstock, Switzerland on Friday.

“Appreciating the positive momentum in Pakistan–Canada relations, they reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation across areas of mutual interest,” it said.

President Asif Ali Zardari has warmly welcomed the signing of the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding MoU’ between the United States of America and Iran, describing it as an historic moment for the region and the world, according to the President’s Secretariat.

“In his message, the president said that the conflict which began in February 2026 inflicted immense suffering upon the peoples of the region and caused severe disruption to global energy supplies, trade and economic stability.

“He expressed hope that such a tragedy would never be repeated and that the nations of the region would now devote their energies to development, prosperity and the well-being of their peoples,” the statement said.

Zardari paid tribute to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi for their “tireless diplomatic efforts that contributed significantly to bringing the parties to an agreement”.

“He noted that Pakistan had played a principled, balanced and constructive role throughout the crisis, consistently calling for dialogue, restraint and a peaceful resolution of disputes while maintaining engagement with all parties concerned,” the statement said.

Zardari also appreciated the leadership of US President Donald Trump, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for “ensuring a diplomatic resolution of the conflict and advancing the cause of peace”.

He also acknowledged the support of brotherly nations, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt, as well as Russia and China, whose “efforts and encouragement of dialogue contributed to the pursuit of peace”.

He called upon all parties to implement the MoU fully and expedite efforts to reach the final agreement within the stipulated timeframe to ensure lasting peace and progress. He expressed the hope that this MoU would serve as the foundation for a durable and comprehensive peace in the region, enabling nations to focus on economic development, energy cooperation and the advancement of their peoples.

“War brings nothing but destruction and misery. Peace is the only path to progress,” the president was quoted as saying. “Pakistan will continue to stand in solidarity with all brotherly nations of the region in their collective journey towards peace and prosperity.”

Joe Kent, who resigned as director of the US National Counterterrorism Center in March in protest against the US-Israel war on Iran, has welcomed the official signing of the memorandum of understanding by Washington and Tehran.

In a post on X, Kent said it was “very good” that Trump was ending the war.

“I pray the peace holds,” he said, adding that “restraining Israel & focusing on stability in the region will be critical to ensure it lasts”.

Oil prices fell more than $1 per barrel after the US and Iran signed an interim agreement that would end the Iran war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and waive US sanctions on Tehran’s oil, boosting the oil supply outlook, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures were down $1.64, or 2.06pc, at $77.91 a barrel as of 0427 GMT, and US West Texas Intermediate fell $1.80, or 2.34pc, to $74.99 a barrel.

The benchmarks resumed their decline, reversing gains made on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said he could resume his bombing campaign if Iran’s leaders “don’t behave”.

“The sell-off extended as energy markets continued to aggressively price in a faster-than-expected return of Iranian barrels following the recent U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding,” IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said in a note

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has congratulated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on “successfully facilitating the historic Islamabad memorandum of onderstanding between the United States and Iran”.

“The Islamabad MoU has averted a potentially devastating conflict, reopened vital regional trade routes, and reaffirmed the power of diplomacy over confrontation,” he said.

“Pakistan did not merely host the dialogue—it helped lead a path to peace through wisdom, neutrality, and constructive engagement,” he said.

“This landmark achievement is a proud moment for Pakistan and a testament to the leadership, vision, and statesmanship of PM Shehbaz and Field Marshal Munir,” he added.

The Israeli military announced that one of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in southern Lebanon the day before, in an incident that also wounded seven soldiers, AFP reports.

Master Sergeant Alexander Filin, 29, “fell in combat”, the military said in a brief statement, adding that an officer, a reserve officer and a reserve soldier were moderately injured.

A combat non-commissioned officer, two reserve soldiers and a female reserve soldier were lightly injured, the military added.

“While the next 60 days will present challenges as important details are worked out, signing was a great step forward for America and, indeed, the world,” White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has said.

Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, says Tehran is engaging diplomatically with the US from a position of strength, Al Jazeera reports.

In an interview with Iran’s Press TV, Ghalibaf, who also serves as speaker of parliament, said that Iran’s “battlefield victory” had provided the backdrop to the talks.

“The difference between the current negotiations and previous periods is that today, this banner of battlefield victory, which both enemies and friends have acknowledged, serves as the backing for negotiations,” Ghalibaf said.

He added that it was important for Iran’s military gains to be translated into a lasting settlement that serves the country’s interests.

“Every war that ends in victory, if it does not ultimately lead to a legal and political document, and those victories are not recorded, will bring no benefit.”