Day 48 | Uncertainty over Iran talks as key Pakistani negotiator visits Tehran
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.
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.
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 while negotiations continue toward a broader agreement.
The fragile truce has since come under strain, particularly as ‘Israel’ launched major bombardments in Lebanon and clashes with the Iran-backed group Hezbollah intensified.
Here’s the latest:
• Trump hints at renewed talks: US President Donald Trump said “something could be happening” over the next two days regarding negotiations with Iran in Pakistan after previous talks faltered.
• Key sticking points remain: Officials say both sides have floated a suspension of Iranian uranium enrichment, but remain divided over the timeline. The US is also pushing for the dismantling of Iran’s major nuclear enrichment facilities and the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
• US marine blockade: Washington has declared a marine blockade, though shipping data shows several Iran-linked vessels have continued transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Overall activity at Iranian ports appears to have declined.
• 'Israel'-Lebanon talks conclude: After the first direct negotiations in decades, 'Israel' and Lebanon agreed to hold further talks “at a mutually agreed time and venue,” according to the US State Department. 'Israel' declined to commit to a ceasefire in southern Lebanon.
• Lebanon strikes strain truce: ‘Israel’ has carried out its heaviest strikes on Lebanon, including in densely populated areas of central Beirut, since Hezbollah joined the war in early March.
• Iran warns talks may collapse: Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the “workable basis” for negotiations had already been violated, suggesting further talks could be “unreasonable.”
• Confusion over ceasefire terms: A senior US official said Iran’s 10-point proposal does not match the conditions the White House says were agreed to when the war was paused.
Thread ended
This live thread has ended. Follow our online coverage of day 49 of the war, as a 10-day ceasefire comes into effect in Lebanon after nearly seven weeks of war.
Read more: Day 49 | Lebanon ceasefire begins following Trump announcement
Lebanon-‘Israel’ ceasefire goes into effect
The ceasefire between Lebanon and ‘Israel’ has started, after US President Donald Trump announced earlier that it would take effect starting today at 5 PM ET and for 10 days.
Trump said the ceasefire would include the Iran-backed Hezbollah.
"Today they're going to be having a ceasefire, and that'll include Hezbollah," Trump told reporters at the White House.
A lawmaker from Hezbollah told AFP the group would "cautiously adhere" to the ceasefire if ‘Israel’ stopped attacks.
Ibrahim al-Moussawi thanked Iran for having applied pressure in Lebanon's favor, adding that "the ceasefire would not have happened without Iran considering the ceasefire as equal to closing the Strait of Hormuz."
The truce announcement comes amid Washington's continuing efforts to reach a deal to end the US-‘Israeli’ war with Iran. Tehran has insisted that a Lebanon ceasefire must be part of any agreement.
VIDEO - Hezbollah rocket hits Nahariya, north ‘Israel’
Footage of a Hezbollah rocket salvo targeting north ‘Israel’ just before the Lebanon-‘Israel’ truce begins.
It also shows the aftermath of a direct hit on the settlement of Nahariya.
Hezbollah rocket directly hits north ‘Israel’s’ Nahariya before truce begins
‘Israeli’ rescue services said on Thursday that one person was seriously injured in northern ‘Israel’ after shelling from Lebanon that came less than two hours before the start of a truce agreed with Lebanon.
In the Karmiel area, rescuers "are providing medical treatment on site to a 25-year-old man in serious condition, who was injured by interception debris", ‘Israel's’ emergency service, Magen David Adom, said in a statement. Civil defence authorities had earlier issued a rocket alert for the area.
Hebrew media said a direct rocket hit was reported in Nahariyya.
VIDEO - Iran agreed to hand over its enriched uranium supply, says Trump
Iran has "agreed to give us back the nuclear dust that's way underground," says US President Donald Trump while speaking to the press at the White House.
VIDEO - ‘Israel’-Lebanon ceasefire to include Hezbollah: Trump
A ceasefire between ‘Israel’ and Lebanon will include Hezbollah, US President Donald Trump tells reporters at the White House.
"They’re going to be having a ceasefire, and that’ll include Hezbollah," he says.
Netanyahu says Lebanon truce opportunity for “historic peace”
‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that the ten-day ceasefire with Lebanon offered an opportunity for a “historic peace agreement” with Beirut, but insisted that the disarmament of Hezbollah remained a precondition.
"We have an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement with Lebanon," Netanyahu said in a televised speech, adding that ‘Israel’ will maintain a 10-kilometre (6.2-mile) "security zone" along the border in southern Lebanon.
US President Donald Trump earlier said that Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun had agreed to a ten-day truce starting at 2100 GMT on Thursday evening, noting that it would include Hezbollah.
Trump says “very good chance” to reach deal with Iran
US President Donald Trump said there’s a “very good chance” a deal will be reached with Iran.
"They've agreed to give us back the nuclear dust," Trump told reporters at the White House.
"There's a very good chance we're going to make a deal."
Iran agreed to hand over its enriched uranium supply: Trump
US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran has agreed to hand over its store of enriched uranium and that the two sides were "close" to a peace deal ending six weeks of conflict.
"They've agreed to give us back the nuclear dust," Trump told reporters at the White House, using his name for the enriched uranium stockpile that the United States says could be used to build nuclear weapons.
"There's a very good chance we're going to make a deal."
Hezbollah included in ‘Israel’-Lebanon ceasefire: Trump
US President Donald Trump said a 10-day ceasefire between ‘Israel’ and Lebanon starting Thursday would include Iran-backed Hezbollah.
"Today they're going to be having a ceasefire, and that'll include Hezbollah," Trump told reporters at the White House.
‘Israeli’ ministers shocked to learn of Lebanon truce from media: report
‘Israeli’ ministers were shocked and expressed their anger after learning of the Lebanon ceasefire from media reports rather than approving it in a cabinet session, according to reports in Hebrew media.
‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the ministers that he agreed to the ceasefire at the request of US President Donald Trump, and has rejected putting it up to a vote in the cabinet.
“When Israel’s greatest friend, President Trump, is acting alongside us in close coordination, Israel cooperates with him,” Netanyahu said, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.
He also told them that the ‘Israeli’ military will be positioned at “strategic points” in Lebanon during the 10-day ceasefire.
Lebanese PM welcomes ‘Israel’ ceasefire announced by Trump
Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the ceasefire agreement with ‘Israel’, announced by US President Donald Trump, describing the halt in hostilities as a primary national objective.
In a statement, Salam said that securing a ceasefire has been a Lebanese demand officials have pursued since the first day of the conflict.
Ceasefire agreed between ‘Israel’ and Lebanon for 10 days: Trump
‘Israel’ and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire starting on Thursday, US President Donald Trump said after speaking to ‘Israeli’ premier Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese counterpart Joseph Aoun.
"These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P.M. EST," Trump said on his Truth Social network, without mentioning Lebanon's Hezbollah movement.
Trump, Aoun discuss Lebanon ceasefire efforts in phone call
A phone call took place on Thursday between US President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, according to a statement by the Lebanese presidency.
“During the call, President Aoun renewed his appreciation for the efforts Trump is making to reach a ceasefire in Lebanon and to secure lasting peace and stability,” the statement said.
“Trump, in turn, expressed his support for President Aoun and Lebanon, emphasizing his commitment to responding to Lebanon’s request for a ceasefire at the earliest possible time,” it added.
Earlier today, Aoun rejected a US request for a direct phone call with ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, an official source told Roya.
"The Lebanese president refused a direct call with Netanyahu and informed (US Secretary of State) Marco Rubio of this," adding that "the American side was understanding", the source said.
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday the "leaders" of the two countries would speak the following day.
VIDEO - Hezbollah rockets hit Kiryat Shmona in north ‘Israel’
Footage shows the aftermath of a Hezbollah rocket salvo targeting the northern ‘Israeli’ settlement of Kiryat Shmona.
Katz vows “even more painful” strikes against Iran if it refuses US proposal
‘Israel's’ defence minister warned Iran on Thursday against rejecting a US proposal focused on renouncing "nuclear armament" and vowed to stage "even more painful" strikes on new targets if it did so.
"Iran is standing at a historic crossroads: one path is renouncing the ways of terror and nuclear armament... in line with the US proposal, the other leads to an abyss," Israel Katz said.
"If the Iranian regime chooses the second path, it will quickly discover there are even more painful targets than those we have already struck," he said.
'Israeli' army prepares forces for Lebanon ceasefire tonight: Hebrew media
The 'Israeli' military has directed its troops to prepare for an impending ceasefire in Lebanon that is scheduled to go into effect after 7 PM tonight, according to a report from the 'Israeli' newspaper Haaretz.
Lebanon's Aoun refused contact with Netanyahu before ceasefire, sources say
Sources told Roya News that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun rejected engaging in direct talks with ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prior to the announcement of a ceasefire.
US should ‘dialogue’ first when it ‘dislikes’ a government: Russia’s foreign minister
Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said the United States should “begin by engaging in dialogue” when it disagrees with or “dislikes” a particular government.
Lavrov said no country has ever refused dialogue with the United States, arguing instead that Washington has historically entered agreements and later withdrawn from them.
Iran parliament speaker says Lebanon ceasefire as important as Iran
Iran’s parliament speaker said that a ceasefire in Lebanon is no less important than a ceasefire in Iran, emphasizing the significance of both fronts.
The speaker added that Iran is working through negotiations to “force the enemy” into agreeing to a permanent ceasefire across all areas of war.
