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Says Israeli strikes on Beirut 'should not have happened as he vowed a regional peace deal; Pakistan, Turkish FMs also welcome encouraging progress toward US, Iran understanding; Qatari delegation in Tehran for Middle East war talks.




Trump says Israel attack on Beirut 'should not have happened'

Says Strait of Hormuz will be “open for all” immediately after the signing ceremony, adds looking forward to working with Iran, entire Middle East; Pakistan, Saudi Arabia's welcome negotiations reaching their final stage, express hope that important development will contribute to lasting peace, stability in the region.






Middle East Roundup, June 14: Trump says peace deal signing between US, Iran scheduled for Sunday

PM Sharif says Pakistan is coordinating the next phase of the peace process after negotiators finalized an agreed text, while Abbas Araghchi urges restraint on speculation and Trump amplified the Iranian foreign minister’s remarks.

Middle East Roundup, June 12, 2026: Pakistan says final Iran-US peace deal text has been agreed	

Web Desk/AFP

Says key elements of a proposed Iran agreement have been approved by all parties and a signing announcement is expected soon, while Pakistan says it remains engaged in mediation efforts despite renewed hostilities and regional tensions.

Middle East Roundup June 11, 2026: Trump cancels Iran strikes, cites progress in talks involving Pakistan

Says US actions have removed “millions of barrels of oil” from Iranian exports as tensions escalate; Iran may reassess negotiations with Washington after fresh strikes, while both sides exchange attacks and diplomatic efforts remain under pressure.

Middle East Roundup, June 10: Trump says Iran deal negotiated, warns of further US strikes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed deep concern about the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East, warning that renewed conflict and rising tensions threaten regional stability and could undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve lasting peace. According to a statement posted on X by the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN, Pakistan&rsquo;s representative, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, speaking at the Security Council briefing on non-proliferation on Tuesday, said that recent developments had highlighted the fragility of the current situation and the urgent need for diplomatic initiatives to succeed before tensions escalate further. The statement further said that Pakistan&rsquo;s envoy noted that the recent surge in violence served as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by a fragile ceasefire and stressed that continued instability could have serious consequences for regional and global peace, security, and prosperity. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 651px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2064458346200269074&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=6323c2657b960b6ab2dd3e7e6ea8e645dc9bcd04&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> &ldquo;The ambassador also expressed concern that the outbreak of hostilities had negatively affected efforts to address the Iran nuclear issue, pushing parties further apart and disrupting the International Atomic Energy Agency&rsquo;s verification activities.&rdquo; Reaffirming support for peaceful conflict resolution, the statement added that Iftikhar emphasized that dialogue, diplomacy, and sustained engagement remained the only viable path to resolving outstanding disputes, including those related to Iran&rsquo;s nuclear program. According to the statement, Pakistan&rsquo;s envoy highlighted his country&rsquo;s role in facilitating diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran, noting that it had worked alongside international partners to encourage de-escalation and create conditions conducive to meaningful negotiations. He appreciated both Washington and Tehran for placing their trust in Pakistan and for participating in the &ldquo;Islamabad Talks,&rdquo; described as the highest-level direct engagement between the two sides in more than four decades. According to the statement, Islamabad has maintained close contact with both countries and coordinated with regional and international partners, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkiye, Qatar, and China, to promote dialogue and facilitate communication.&nbsp;Ambassador Iftikhar said Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts were aimed at saving lives, reducing hostilities, and giving diplomacy a chance to succeed.&nbsp; &ldquo;He urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and continue pursuing peaceful solutions, expressing hope that ongoing diplomatic initiatives would ultimately lead to a negotiated settlement and durable regional peace,&rdquo; according to the statement.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan's representative at the UN urges all sides to exercise restraint and support diplomacy; warns that renewed Middle East violence risks derailing ceasefire efforts, disrupting nuclear talks, and undermining regional peace and stability.

Pakistan urges restraint, calls for diplomacy as Middle East tensions threaten peace efforts

US President Donald Trump says that a US military helicopter was shot down by Iran and that the United States 'must' respond; France bans Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country; Iran and Israel halt attacks against each other; US says it is striking Iran in response to helicopter shootdown.



​Middle East Roundup, June 9: Trump says US 'must' respond after claiming Iran downed Apache helicopter

BEIJING: Chinese exports surged almost a fifth last month, official data showed Tuesday, as the world&#39;s second-largest economy weathered pressure from the Middle East war. Overseas shipments from the manufacturing powerhouse jumped 19.4% from the same period last year, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said. That figure beat the 15.0% forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists, and picked up pace from April&#39;s 14.1% increase. Imports soared 27.4% year-on-year in May, topping the 26.0% estimated in the Bloomberg survey. Exports to the United States surged 35.4% on-year, as President Donald Trump visited Beijing with trade high on the agenda. Shipments to the world&#39;s biggest economy hit $39 billion, according to the GAC, up from $28.8 billion in the same month last year, when they plunged during Trump&#39;s trade war. Trade gains The trade gains are a bright spot for the Chinese economy, which has struggled to shift drivers of growth away from manufacturing to domestic consumption. But weaker demand and rising energy costs caused by the Middle East war have started to weigh on growth. China&#39;s factory activity was flat last month after two months of expansion, official data showed. The country&#39;s factories are facing higher costs with the prices of raw materials rising, particularly in the energy and chemical sectors, as shipping constraints remain a problem.

This aerial photo shows a general view of containers at Qingdao port, in China’s eastern Shandong province on June 5, 2026. (Photo by CN-STR / AFP) / CHINA OUT

Business

China’s exports and imports surged in May, beating forecasts and boosted by strong US demand, though rising energy costs and weaker domestic demand continue to pressure the economy.

China says exports jump 19.4% on-year in May, beating forecasts

Lebanese Red Cross says Israeli strike wounds four rescuers in southern Lebanese city; Pakistan's PM urges all sides to exercise restraint, give peace a ‘little more chance’ after renewed hostilities between Iran and Israel; Iranian president says Tehran remains at the negotiating table after halting attacks on Israel.

Middle East Roundup June 8, 2026: Trump calls Netanyahu after Israel-Iran clashes

RIO DE JANEIRO: Airlines are facing surging fuel costs from the war in the Middle East, but executives say they are more concerned about taxes and regulations deemed too restrictive that could further crimp their bottom lines. Despite hand-wringing over the risk that travellers will baulk at paying higher fares, the ongoing war did not appear to ruffle feathers at the International Air Transport Association&#39;s annual conference in Rio, which ends Monday. &quot;We expect average jet fuel prices to be 70% higher year-on-year. That will add $100 billion to our collective fuel bill this year,&quot; IATA director general Willie Walsh told the gathering. Yet when the CNN journalist Richard Quest asked a roundtable discussion if airlines were frustrated by &quot;an event you have no control over&quot;, the responses were remarkably subdued. The chief of Turkey&#39;s Pegasus Airlines, Guliz Ozturk, noted wryly that it was standard practice for carriers to predict various scenarios at the beginning of the year, only to see something entirely different happen. IATA chief economist Marie Owens Thomsen recalled the uncertainty generated at last year&#39;s conference, held in New Delhi just weeks after US President Donald Trump unleashed his tariffs war. &quot;We thought that it was the end of the world,&quot; she said. But this year, there was hardly any mention of Trump despite the ongoing Mideast war, which has driven up fuel prices and caused profitability to plummet in a sector that was already struggling. Name and shame The IATA, which represents 370 member airlines, focused instead on naming and shaming countries that have imposed taxes on tickets -- often in the name of reducing carbon emissions -- or increased regulations on the industry. The European Union was the most frequent target, with Walsh aiming for the bloc&#39;s &quot;populist&quot; Parliament for defending higher compensation for passengers impacted by flight delays. And at a press conference on the shortage of non-fossil fuels needed to decarbonise air travel, EU regulations on the minimum amounts of such fuels required in aircraft tanks came under fire. Even when pressed on the potential impact of a &quot;quagmire&quot; scenario in the Gulf that would curtail oil and jet fuel exports for several more months, executives did not appear overly alarmed. When asked about the possibility of the war dragging out for years, research director Eleanor Budds played down the risk. &quot;Quagmire is a scenario... It doesn&#39;t mean we expect this to happen,&quot; Budds said. A reporter then asked if, in an extreme case, the war would not just drive up prices but also lead to shortages of jet fuel. &quot;In our base case, we don&#39;t have shortages,&quot; she responded.

Europe

Airlines expect jet fuel costs to rise 70%, adding $100 billion in expenses due to the Middle East war. However, industry leaders expressed greater concern over taxes, regulations, and decarbonisation policies affecting profitability.

Articles tagged with "Middle East War"

Trump says Israel attack on Beirut 'should not have happened'

Middle East Roundup, June 14: Trump says peace deal signing between US, Iran scheduled for Sunday

Middle East Roundup, June 12, 2026: Pakistan says final Iran-US peace deal text has been agreed

Middle East Roundup June 11, 2026: Trump cancels Iran strikes, cites progress in talks involving Pakistan

Middle East Roundup, June 10: Trump says Iran deal negotiated, warns of further US strikes

Pakistan urges restraint, calls for diplomacy as Middle East tensions threaten peace efforts

Middle East Roundup, June 9: Trump says US 'must' respond after claiming Iran downed Apache helicopter

China says exports jump 19.4% on-year in May, beating forecasts

Middle East Roundup June 8, 2026: Trump calls Netanyahu after Israel-Iran clashes

Airlines say taxes and rules bigger worry than Mideast war

Trump says Israel attack on Beirut 'should not have happened'

Articles tagged with "Middle East War"

Trump says Israel attack on Beirut 'should not have happened'

Middle East Roundup, June 14: Trump says peace deal signing between US, Iran scheduled for Sunday

Middle East Roundup, June 12, 2026: Pakistan says final Iran-US peace deal text has been agreed

Middle East Roundup June 11, 2026: Trump cancels Iran strikes, cites progress in talks involving Pakistan

Middle East Roundup, June 10: Trump says Iran deal negotiated, warns of further US strikes

Pakistan urges restraint, calls for diplomacy as Middle East tensions threaten peace efforts

​Middle East Roundup, June 9: Trump says US 'must' respond after claiming Iran downed Apache helicopter

China says exports jump 19.4% on-year in May, beating forecasts

Middle East Roundup June 8, 2026: Trump calls Netanyahu after Israel-Iran clashes

Airlines say taxes and rules bigger worry than Mideast war

Trump says Israel attack on Beirut 'should not have happened'

Middle East Roundup, June 9: Trump says US 'must' respond after claiming Iran downed Apache helicopter