The US and Israel on Feb 28 launched what they described as a “pre-emptive” joint strike against Iranian targets, with Trump announcing start of “major combat operations”
Pakistan hosted the first round of face-to-face talks between the US and Iran in 47 years in April; the talks ended without a breakthrough, but also without a breakdown
A high-level Iranian delegation that includes the country’s top negotiator and central bank chief are in Doha to discuss a peace agreement with the US and the release of frozen funds, a source briefed on the matter told AFP.
“Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Doha earlier today for talks on ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict,” the source said, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
The visit will focus, the source added, “on issues relating to the Strait and highly enriched uranium. The Central Bank governor is part of the delegation to discuss the issue of frozen funds, which is addressed in the MoU as part of an eventual final deal.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that Iran will not surrender to US pressures and excessive demands, saying the country’s negotiators will ensure the full restoration of the nation’s rights through the diplomatic process, Press TV reports.
Speaking at a meeting with members of the Chamber of Commerce, Pezeshkian noted that after failing on the military front, the enemy has now concentrated its efforts on economic warfare.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not surrender to excessive pressures and demands under any circumstances,” he said.
Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, calls for a return to “intensive” fighting in Lebanon, despite a ceasefire aimed at halting hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, AFP reports.
“It is time for the prime minister to take a firm stand with Donald Trump and tell him that Israel is returning to war in Lebanon,” Ben Gvir says on X.
“Electricity to Lebanon must be cut off, the Zahrani must be seized, and intensive warfare resumed,” he adds, referring to a river in southern Lebanon which runs further north than current Israeli ground operations.
Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s far-right finance minister, says Israel must “put an end to the threat of Hezbollah’s explosive drones”, Al Jazeera reports.
He notes the approval of a special budget of approximately 2 billion shekels ($692 million) for technological solutions to address the drone threat earlier this week.
Citing the killing of an Israeli soldier in a Hezbollah drone attack in southern Lebanon, the Religious Zionist Party leader says, “For every explosive drone, 10 buildings must fall in Beirut. The response to a significant threat must be significant.
“You don’t counter a strategic threat with shielding alone, but by changing the rules and the equation. We cannot shield ourselves forever. Only exacting a deterrent and disproportionate price from the enemy will reshape the equation against our foes on all fronts,” he adds in a post on X.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has confirmed that Qatar’s secretary of the Supreme National Security Council visited Iran as part of diplomatic efforts mediated by Pakistan, according to semi-official news agency Tasnim.
Tasnim further clarifies that the Qatari emir did not undertake the visit.
Two Israeli drones have targeted the municipality of al-Shahabiya and the outskirts of the municipality of al-Bazouriyah in southern Lebanon’s Tyre district, according to Al Jazeera.
Separately, the Israeli army has also targeted the municipalities of ad-Doueir and Kafr Reman in the Nabatieh district.
Trump also slammed democrats in his Truth Social post, who he said “know nothing of the potential deal I am making with Iran,” naming US Senators Thom Tillis, Bill Cassidy and Congressman Thomas Massie.
He said that the Democrats had “totally lost their way, constantly supporting bad policy and even worse candidates, but are constantly critical of each and every fantastic win I have”.
“In other words, they are losers!“ the president said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has appreciated Pakistan’s “constructive role” in US-Iran negotiations, Reuters reports.
“I know that you have just returned from Iran and made positive efforts for the current peace. We still appreciate the constructive role played by Pakistan,” Xi said.
During his official visit to China, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been accompanied by CDF and COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir, who was recently in Tehran for meetings with the Iranian leadership.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attend a meeting at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China on May 25, 2026. —Reuters
Pope Leo XIV has labelled “outdated” the concept of a “just war” put forward by US President Donald Trump’s administration, warning that “humanity is slipping into a violent culture of power”, reports AFP.
“Today, more than ever, without prejudice to the right to self-defence in the strictest sense, it is important to reaffirm that the ‘just war’ theory, which has all too often been used to justify any kind of war, is now outdated,” he wrote in an encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas” (Magnificent Humanity).
Esmaeil Baqaei further expressed Tehran’s intention to continue its drone and missile programmes, contrary to earlier demands made by Washington.
“We will definitely spend part of our money on the development of Iran’s drone and missile programme, and we will not ask permission from anyone for that,” state broadcaster IRIB quoted Baqaei as saying.
“If we didn’t do this, the bullies of the world, including America, would dominate us,” he stressed.
China urged the US and Iran to continue the “momentum of de-escalation” as potential signs emerged that the war between the two sides could wind down following recent diplomatic contacts, Anadolu reports.
“China’s position on the Iranian situation is very clear. This is a conflict that should never have happened and there is no need for it to continue,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing.
“An earlier solution serves the interests of both the US and Iran, as well as regional countries and the world at large,” she said.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has raised concerns over “contradictory views” that he said were emerging from within the American leadership.
“US politics is suffering from indecision. Facing contradictory views from US officials within just a few hours makes the process of any dialogue difficult,” IRIB quoted Baqaei as saying.
His remarks come after Trump last night said a deal with Iran was not “fully negotiated yet”, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted that it could materialise “maybe today”.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has said China is playing an “effective role” in the negotiations to stop the US-Iran war, Tasnim reports.
“China has a very good relationship with us and we have a strategic partnership and it has played a constructive role in all processes,” Baqaei was quoted as saying.
He noted that both China and Russia played a positive role at the UN Security Council.
Iran’s foreign ministry said that Tehran was collecting fees for “navigational services” on ships transiting the strategic Strait of Hormuz, rather than imposing tolls, AFP reports.
“The services that are provided — navigational services in addition to the measures necessary to protect the environment of the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman — require the collection of certain fees,” said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press briefing.
He added that Iran was “not seeking to collect tolls”.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will miss United Nations Security Council meeting due to US visa issue, according to foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei, Al Jazeera reports.
Speaking further, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson noted that there are “no guarantees” that the US will honour its commitments to a potential deal and said that Tehran does not care about “threats”, Al Jazeera notes.
“The changes in recent weeks have been caused by mediation from Pakistan and other countries,” he was quoted as saying, adding that the talks included a clause to end the ongoing conflict in Lebanon.
Baqaei further said it was “ridiculous” for the “aggressors” to speak about the welfare of Iranians, and that vital infrastructure, including steel and pharmaceutical plants, has been targeted by US-Israeli strikes.
Speaking about the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Esmail Baqaei has said that while Tehran will not take any tolls, it is “normal that services that will be provided would require a price”, Al Jazeera reports.
The spokesperson explained that management of the waterway belonged to coastal countries.
“We are in contact with the countries bordering the Strait of Hormuz to provide security there and to protect their interests,” he said.
European shares opened at their highest levels in more than two months, buoyed by signs that Iran and the US are negotiating an end to their conflict, easing concerns about inflation and a global economic slowdown, according to Reuters.
The pan-European STOXX 600 up 0.61 per cent at 628.93 points, as of 0712 GMT, trading just shy of a record high touched in late February, just before the Middle East war erupted.
Most sectors traded higher, led by banks with a 1.7pc jump, while regional airlines such as Lufthansa and Air France KLM gained 4.2pc and 9pc, respectively, as Brent crude prices slid 5pc to $98 a barrel.
