Iran Sets Conditions in Pakistan Amidst Ongoing US Conflict

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, articulated Tehran's conditions for a resolution to the ongoing conflict with the United States during his visit to Islamabad, as reported on Saturday.

In a meeting with General Asim Munir, head of Pakistan’s armed forces, Araghchi addressed “the latest developments related to the ceasefire” and shared Tehran’s “views and considerations.” He expressed a commitment to ongoing mediation efforts.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif characterized the discussions as a “cordial exchange.”

Two officials from the Pakistani government confirmed that the Iranian delegation departed Islamabad on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were expected to arrive in Islamabad, despite Iran's insistence that no direct talks with Washington were on the agenda.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that discussions were indeed occurring because Iran had requested an in-person meeting with the US.

However, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson clarified on social media that while Mr. Araghchi was in Pakistan, “no meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US,” emphasizing that “Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan.”

Donald Trump refrained from specifying who the US was negotiating with on the Iranian side but asserted that “we're dealing with the people that are in charge now.”

A report indicated that the U.S. has depleted billions of dollars’ worth of its critical weapons stockpile amid the conflict with Iran. The war, which ignited on February 28, has seen the Pentagon deploy over 1,200 Patriot interceptor missiles, each costing upwards of $4 million.

Additionally, approximately 1,100 long-range stealth cruise missiles have been utilized, originally stockpiled for potential conflict with China, according to congressional officials and internal Defense Department estimates. Over 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles have also been launched, a figure significantly exceeding the annual procurement rate for the U.S. military.

Reports emerged that President Trump has canceled Witkoff and Kushner’s planned trip to Pakistan for discussions with Iranian officials, as noted by Fox News White House Correspondent Aishah Hasnie.

In a separate incident, a Lebanese journalist injured in an Israeli airstrike that claimed her colleague's life recounted her harrowing experience waiting for assistance in an interview with The Associated Press.

Zeinab Faraj, a freelance photographer and video journalist, often collaborated with Amal Khalil, a seasoned correspondent for Al-Akhbar. The two were en route behind a relative in al-Tiri village when tragedy struck just days after a fragile truce was established between Israel and Hezbollah.

A third U.S. aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East this week as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalate over control of the Strait of Hormuz.

The USS George HW Bush, accompanied by a strike group of warships, has entered U.S. Central Command’s operational area in the Indian Ocean, signaling a renewed show of force amid ongoing blockades of Iranian ports and vessels.

This deployment marks the first instance since 2003 that three U.S. aircraft carriers have been present in the Middle East, coinciding with the onset of the Iraq invasion.

As Iranian officials departed Pakistan, they reiterated their stance against direct negotiations with Washington, opting instead to communicate their position through Pakistani mediators.

Prime Minister Sharif remarked on his meeting with Araghchi as a “warm, cordial exchange of views on the current regional situation,” highlighting discussions on mutual interests and strengthening Pakistan-Iran relations.

Houssam Naddaf expressed his disbelief upon witnessing an Israeli soldier destroy a crucifix in his family garden—a moment captured and shared online. “I saw it on the internet like everyone else,” he lamented, unable to visit his home due to movement restrictions imposed by Israeli forces.

The Israeli military reported targeting rocket launchers belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon overnight, citing an immediate threat to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) personnel and civilians.

The Media Freedom Coalition condemned attacks on journalists following the death of Lebanese reporter Amal Khalil earlier this week. “Journalists and media workers play an essential role in putting the spotlight on the devastating reality of war,” their statement read.

Amal Khalil was killed while covering Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon. Reports indicate that two strikes hit al-Tayri, resulting in fatalities and injuries.

The Committee for the Protection of Journalists has raised alarms about Israel's aggressive actions against journalists, noting a record number of fatalities among media workers in recent years. A staggering 129 journalists were killed in 2025 alone, with two-thirds attributed to Israeli actions.