Day 44 | US-Iran truce in balance as Islamabad talks begin
The 2026 Iran War began on February 28, when the United States and ‘Israel’ launched a large-scale attack on Iran, unleashing nearly 900 airstrikes within 12 hours on the Islamic Republic’s missile systems, air defenses, nuclear facilities, military bases, and leadership targets.
On April 8, the United States, Iran, and ‘Israel’ agreed to a temporary two-week ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan, with Iran committing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and all sides pausing military operations while negotiations continue toward a broader agreement.
The assault followed years of shadow conflict, including direct missile exchanges in 2024 and a limited 12-day war in 2025 that damaged Iran’s nuclear and ballistic capabilities.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior officials were killed in the opening strikes.
Iran responded within hours, launching waves of ballistic missiles and drones at ‘Israel’, US bases, and targets across the Gulf.
The fragile truce is currently hanging in the balance, with Tehran threatening to resume hostilities as ‘Israel’ launched a major bombardment of Lebanon.
Washington and Tehran both claimed victory after agreeing to the ceasefire and negotiations.
The deal's fractures emerged quickly as ‘Israel’ carried out its heaviest strikes on its neighbour -- including in densely packed central Beirut -- since the Iran-backed group Hezbollah joined the war in early March.
‘Israel’ said its battle against Hezbollah was not part of the US-Iran truce agreed late Tuesday, an argument echoed by US Vice President JD Vance, as he is leading the talks with Tehran in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf appeared to threaten the ceasefire, posting on X that the "workable basis on which to negotiate" had already been violated, making further talks "unreasonable".
Adding to the fragility of the truce -- agreed hours before a deadline set by US President Donald Trump -- a senior US official said Iran's 10-point plan was not the same set of conditions the White House had agreed to in order to pause the war.
VIDEO - Trump says makes “no difference” to him if Iran, US reach deal
US President Donald Trump says he was not bothered about the outcome of US-Iran talks in Pakistan, insisting that the United States had come out ahead from the war.
"Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me. The reason is because we've won," Trump tells reporters.
Uganda army chief vows 100,000 troops to defend ‘Israel’ and 500,000 to capture Tehran
Uganda’s military chief, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has once again thrust himself into the global spotlight with two provocative posts on X within hours of each other, declaring readiness to send tens of thousands of Ugandan troops to defend ‘Israel’ and claiming a massive force of “war-hungry young men” could overrun Tehran “for free.”
In the first post, Gen. Kainerugaba wrote: “I’m ready to deploy 100,000 Ugandan soldiers in Israel. Under my command. To protect the Holy Land. The land of Jesus Christ our God!”
I'm ready to deploy 100,000 Ugandan soldiers in Israel. Under my command. To protect the Holy Land. The land of Jesus Christ our God!
— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) April 10, 2026
Later the same evening, he followed up with an even more incendiary claim: “I have about 500,000 war hungry young men. All they want is money. They’ll eat that Tehran for free.”
I have about 500,000 war hungry young men. All they want is money. They'll eat that Tehran for free.
— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) April 10, 2026
Earlier in March 2026, Gen. Kainerugaba had already signaled strong support for ‘Israel’, posting that “any talk of destroying or defeating Israel will bring us into the war. On the side of Israel!”
Gen. Kainerugaba, 51, is the son of longtime Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and is widely seen as a potential successor.
As head of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), he has cultivated a reputation for blunt, headline-grabbing social media commentary on international affairs — from offers to intervene in Haiti to demands for massive US payments.
VIDEO - “War divides, hope unites,’ says Pope Leo at prayer for Peace
Pope Leo lashes out against warmongers while calling on billions of people around the globe to embrace peace and "believe once again in love, moderation and good politics", during prayer vigil for peace.
In one of his most passionate entreaties yet to end the raging conflict in the Middle East, the American pope says faith is needed "in order to face this dramatic hour in history together".
US, Iran to resume talks later Sunday after marathon negotiations: Iranian media
The United States and Iran were set to resume top-level peace talks in Pakistan later Sunday, Iranian media reported, following marathon negotiations that lasted nearly 15 hours.
"End of 15-hour marathon talks on first day of Iran-US talks in Islamabad," Tasnim news agency reported, with another media outlet Mehr saying the next round of negotiations will be held after sunrise.
“Excessive demands” by US in Islamabad talks an “obstacle”: Iranian media
Iranian media reported Sunday that the United States and Iran have not reached an understanding yet on the differences between them, in the ongoing truce talks in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Fars News Agency, citing an “informed source”, said that the two sides are in the process of writing another text, but “the excessive demands of the American side are a serious obstacle to achieving a result so far”.
Another round of negotiations will continue on Sunday at the request of the Pakistani government, the report added.
Trump says makes “no difference” to him if Iran, US reach deal
US President Donald Trump said Saturday he was not bothered about the outcome of US-Iran talks in Pakistan, insisting the United States had come out ahead from the war.
"Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me. The reason is because we've won," Trump told reporters.
"We're in very deep negotiations with Iran. We win regardless. We've defeated them militarily," Trump said.
Trump was speaking as Vice President JD Vance was leading the US delegation in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, with discussions with Iran heading into a second day.
Trump also repeated the US military's statement that US Navy warships on Saturday transited through the Strait of Hormuz, the vital gateway to the oil-rich Gulf, to begin clearing it of Iranian mines.
The account was denied by Iran, which has exerted power over the narrow waterway and with it the world's oil supply in retaliation for the attack launched on February 28 by the United States and Israel.
"We have minesweepers out there. We're sweeping the strait," Trump said.
"We'll open up the strait even though we don't use it, because we have a lot of other countries in the world that do use it that are either afraid or weak or cheap," Trump said.
He again voiced frustration with allies from NATO, who stayed on the sidelines during the war, and who were not consulted in advance.
"We were not helped by NATO, that I can tell you," Trump said.
VIDEO - ‘Israeli’ forces use white phosphorus in strike on At-Tiri in southern Lebanon
Footage of ‘Israeli’ forces dropping white phosphorus on the southern Lebanon town of At-Tiri.
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Read more: Day 43 | US-Iran truce on edge as talks to begin in Pakistan on Saturday
