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US President Donald Trump signals possible new Iran talks in Pakistan within two days; tells the New York Post Islamabad is increasingly likely as host; praises Field Marshal Asim Munir for his leadership.

Talks could happen in Islamabad in two days, FM Munir doing a ‘great job’: Trump tells NY Post

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ISLAMABAD: China has expressed support for Pakistan&#39;s efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran, urging all parties to seek a diplomatic solution to a conflict that has destabilized the region and shaken global energy markets, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning stated. Speaking at a regular press conference, the spokesperson said Beijing &quot;welcomes all efforts conducive to peace and supports Pakistan in making an active mediation effort.&quot; She also called upon all relevant parties to &quot;seize the opportunity for peace, bridge differences through dialogue and put an early end to the conflict.&quot; The conflict, which has &quot;caused heavy casualties and damage, [is] hitting the security and stability of regional countries and impacting the world economy and energy security,&quot; she stated. Beijing has pursued its own diplomatic track. According to Mao Ning, Foreign Minister Wang Yi has made 26 phone calls with parties including Iran, Israel, Russia, and Gulf states since hostilities began. China&#39;s Special Envoy to the Middle East also traveled to the region to mediate directly. Last week, China and Pakistan jointly issued a five-point peace initiative, which Mao Ning stated embodied &quot;the international consensus for ceasefire and peace.&quot; Beijing was direct in assigning blame. &quot;The root cause of the conflict is the US-Israeli launch of military attacks against Iran in violation of international law,&quot; the Chinese spokesperson said. She called for an immediate cessation of military operations and a return to negotiations. A 45-day ceasefire framework remains under consideration, with Pakistani officials leading negotiations and working to reopen the strait amid continued airstrikes and regional escalation, according to AFP. The conflict began on Feb. 28, when the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian strategic sites, killing the country&rsquo;s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Iran retaliated with missile strikes on regional military bases and closed the Strait of Hormuz.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning speaks at a regular press briefing April 7, 2026. (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China)

Asia

Urges ceasefire and dialogue to end the war in the Middle East to stabilize the region and protect global energy markets, the Foreign Ministry said.

China says it supports Pakistan’s mediation efforts between US, Iran

Iran plans to charge ships passing the Strait of Hormuz, blocking US and Israeli vessels. The Middle-East war has reduced ship traffic by 95%, disrupting global oil and gas supplies.

 All you need to know about the US Israel war on Iran day 31

Iran’s atomic energy organization said US-Israeli strikes on Friday hit the Ardakan uranium processing plant in central Yazd Province, but said the attack caused no release of radioactive material.

All you need to know about the US Israel war on Iran day 28

Tehran submits its response to a US proposal through intermediaries, with Pakistan relaying messages between both sides as indirect talks continue and regional partners support efforts to reach a possible end to the conflict.

All you need to know about Day 27 of US-Israeli war on Iran

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary in efforts to end the ongoing war involving Iran, positioning itself at the center of high-stakes diplomacy as regional and global powers reassess their roles, according to a news analysis by The New York Times. The report said Pakistan conveyed a 15-point US proposal to Tehran and offered to host peace talks, reflecting what officials described as an expanding diplomatic role amid the widening conflict. &ldquo;Iran&#39;s response to the 15 points proposed by the US was officially sent&hellip; through intermediaries,&rdquo; the analysis noted, adding that Pakistan has been relaying messages between Washington and Tehran as indirect talks continue. The development comes as tensions escalate following US-Israeli strikes on Iran that triggered retaliatory attacks across the Gulf, disrupting energy routes and raising global economic concerns. For India, the report said, Pakistan&rsquo;s growing diplomatic engagement marks a &ldquo;troubling trend,&rdquo; as New Delhi navigates strained ties with Washington while Islamabad strengthens its positioning. &ldquo;Normally&hellip; the intermediary role would be played by the United Nations or a country like Qatar,&rdquo; said Happymon Jacob, a diplomacy professor cited in the report. However, shifting geopolitical dynamics have created space for alternative mediators. Pakistan&rsquo;s role is underpinned by its unique geopolitical position, maintaining relations with both the United States and Iran, while also holding strategic ties with Gulf states. Islamabad has also consistently called for restraint. &ldquo;Pakistan has consistently advocated for dialogue and diplomacy to promote peace and stability in the region,&rdquo; Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said in earlier remarks. The analysis noted that Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic outreach, including high-level contacts with Iranian leadership and regional partners, has coincided with warming ties with Washington. At the same time, India&rsquo;s position has been complicated by its close relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly as the conflict intensifies. Still, some Indian officials urged caution against viewing the situation competitively. &ldquo;Clearly, putting an end to this conflict is hugely advantageous&hellip; for everyone,&rdquo; said former diplomat T.C.A. Raghavan, emphasizing that de-escalation would benefit the entire region. Analysts say Pakistan&rsquo;s involvement reflects both necessity and opportunity, with the country seeking to prevent spillover from a conflict unfolding near its borders, while also reinforcing its diplomatic relevance on the global stage. As the war enters a critical phase, Pakistan&rsquo;s role as a conduit for dialogue highlights the shifting balance of influence in a crisis that continues to reshape regional geopolitics and global economic stability.

Report says Pakistan conveyed 15-point US proposal to Tehran, offered to host peace talks, reflecting what officials described as an expanding diplomatic role amid the widening conflict.

India appears sidelined as Pakistan takes peacemaker role: NYT

Netanyahu says he speaks with Trump, discussing military gains in Iran and pursuing agreement while protecting Israel’s vital interests


All you need to know about Day 24 of US-Israeli war on Iran

Iran warned that if the US attacks its power plants, it will fully close the strategic Strait of Hormuz until repairs are made. Currently, only about five percent of normal vessel traffic passes through.

All you need to know about Day 23 of US-Israeli war on Iran

ISLAMABAD: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a tweet late Wednesday, outlined terms to end the war in the Middle East, reaffirming his country&#39;s commitment to regional peace. &quot;The only way to end this war [...] is recognizing Iran&rsquo;s legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm international guarantees against future aggression,&quot; he said in a post on X. He said he had earlier spoken with the leaders of Russia and Pakistan, reaffirming Iran&#39;s commitment to peace in the region.&nbsp; <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;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 344px; 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=2031794088526168170&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=851b3232460997a6b3b6c2bab056b2fd29af7ac1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div> Meanwhile, Iran&#39;s Revolutionary Guards warned that they would strike &quot;economic centers and banks&quot; linked to US and Israeli interests.&nbsp; The defiance from Tehran came as fighting around the strategic Strait of Hormuz &mdash; the waterway carrying a fifth of the world&#39;s oil &mdash; sent shock waves through energy markets, prompting emergency releases from global reserves and a limited draw on US stockpiles. Oil prices have surged since Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iran that killed its supreme leader and plunged the Middle East into conflict. Retaliatory Iranian missile strikes and drone attacks have brought shipping through the strait almost to a halt, forcing governments to scramble to contain the fallout, while US President Donald Trump said Iran was &quot;pretty much at the end of the line.&quot; &quot;Doesn&#39;t mean we&#39;re going to end it immediately, but they are,&quot; Trump told reporters. He said Iran&#39;s navy and air force had been destroyed, that it was close to running out of missiles and that US forces could knock out the electricity supply &quot;within one hour&quot; &mdash; leaving the country with a reconstruction that could take a generation. But the US leader indicated that he would rather show restraint than take actions that would make it &quot;almost impossible for them to rebuild their country.&quot; The president had earlier said the United States must &quot;finish the job&quot; in Iran, adding that US forces had struck 28 Iranian mine-laying vessels. He said Washington would tap US strategic reserves &quot;a little&quot; to help stabilize markets roiled by the war, and his administration later announced that he had authorized the release of 172 million barrels, beginning next week. The International Energy Agency agreed to release a record 400 million barrels. Israel&#39;s military, however, signaled the campaign was far from finished, and that it still had &quot;a broad bank of targets.&quot; Economic shockWith the conflict in its 12th day, Iran&#39;s Revolutionary Guards warned Wednesday they would strike &quot;economic centers and banks&quot; linked to US and Israeli interests, prompting more international firms to evacuate staff from Dubai. The United States and Israel &quot;must consider the possibility that they will be engaged in a long-term war of attrition that will destroy the entire American economy and the world economy,&quot; Ali Fadavi, an adviser to the Guards&#39; commander-in-chief, told state television. Iran said it targeted two commercial vessels in the Gulf after they entered the Strait of Hormuz, &quot;after ignoring the warnings&quot; of its navy. Analysts warn that a prolonged disruption to shipping through the strait &mdash; which also carries roughly a third of the fertilizer used in global food production &mdash; would deliver a severe economic shock, particularly in Asia and Europe. The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding Iran halt attacks on Gulf states, prompting the Islamic republic&#39;s ambassador to the United Nations to accuse it of a &quot;blatant misuse&quot; of its mandate. The conflict has already disrupted two pillars of the Gulf economy &mdash; energy production and commercial aviation. On Wednesday, drones fell near Dubai airport, injuring four people, authorities said. Others struck fuel tanks at Oman&#39;s Salalah port, according to the Oman News Agency. &#39;Wave of strikes&#39;&nbsp;In an apparent first since the war began, Israeli drones also struck targets in Tehran on Wednesday evening, killing members of the security forces, Iran&#39;s Fars news agency reported. The Israeli military later said it was carrying out a &quot;wide-scale wave of strikes&quot; after the IRGC announced just after midnight on Thursday that it had carried out a joint missile operation with Hezbollah against targets in Israel. Pentagon officials have meanwhile briefed US lawmakers that the cost of the war exceeded $11.3 billion in its first six days, The New York Times reported, citing people familiar with the classified briefing. The conflict has continued to spill across the region.

Iran Guards warn they will strike 'economic centers and banks' linked to US and Israeli interests; Iran’s president says only way to end war is recognizing Iran’s 'legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm international guarantees against future aggression.'

Iran outlines terms to end war, reaffirms regional peace in talks with Pakistan

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