APTOPIX Lebanon Israel Iran War
Girls chase bubbles next to their family's tents used as shelter after fleeing Israeli bombardment in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, in Beirut, on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
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Pakistan’s army chief is meeting with Iranian officials for talks in Tehran in the latest diplomatic move to ease tensions in the region and arrange a second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran. That’s according to the Pakistani military, which said Wednesday that the delegation included the country’s interior minister and other senior security officials. The military said the visit was “part of the ongoing mediation efforts,” but gave no further details. Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator in the conflict. Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the U.S. will ramp up its infliction of economic pain on Iran. Bessent said the effort would be the “financial equivalent” of a bombing campaign.
The leader of Iran’s joint military command has threatened to halt trade in the Gulf region if the U.S. does not lift its blockade of Iranian ports, while U.S. Central Command says no vessels have made it past U.S. naval forces during the first 48 hours of the blockade. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday also said the war in Iran was “very close to over" and claimed China has agreed not to provide weapons to Iran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. may levy secondary sanctions on financial institutions that do business with Iran. Meanwhile, mediators have made progress with efforts to resume negotiations about a ceasefire extension.
A 10-day ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump and agreed on by Lebanon and Israel has started. The truce could boost attempts to extend the ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel after weeks of devastating war. Israel has not been fighting with Lebanon itself, but rather with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group inside Lebanon. The ceasefire would begin at 5 p.m. ET Thursday. Nearly 2,200 people in Lebanon have been killed by Israeli air strikes. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s army chief met with Iranian officials in a bid to arrange a second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran.
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