US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Pakistan’s prime minister has sent a clear signal that the ongoing negotiations in Islamabad are making progress, with reports suggesting Vance is already en route to the city.
Two planes have reportedly departed from Iran, fueling speculation about the talks’ trajectory.
Iran’s parliament speaker had previously stated on social media that any negotiations would require a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iranian assets.
Insiders privy to the negotiations have revealed that both parties are engaged in a delicate balancing act, crafting public statements to sway their respective domestic audiences.
It appears Iran is taking steps to protect its interests and avoid undermining Hezbollah’s position.

The Gulf region’s fragile ceasefire has gotten off to a rocky start, with several incidents of drone attacks reported in the past 24 hours. Kuwait’s Defence Ministry confirmed that seven drones breached its airspace, sparking accusations of “Iranian aggression”. However, Iran has vehemently denied any involvement in these incidents, fuelling a cycle of finger-pointing and blame-shifting in the region.

Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry has issued a strongly worded statement condemning the attacks, which it attributes to Iran and its regional allies. The US State Department has also implicated Iran-affiliated armed groups in Iraq, accusing them of launching attacks from Iraqi territory. Despite these setbacks, there are some encouraging signs. Bahrain’s Defence Forces reported no hostile incidents in the past 24 hours, while the UAE detected no ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, or incoming drones from Iran. Furthermore, the latest attack on Qatar occurred two days ago, suggesting a possible decrease in tensions.

In a coordinated operation, Israeli forces launched simultaneous attacks on approximately 100 Hezbollah targets in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon, within a one-minute timeframe on Wednesday, resulting in the reported deaths of at least 180 Hezbollah fighters. The Lebanese government has confirmed that more than 300 people lost their lives in the assault.

Pakistan’s ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, underscored the significance of a conducive environment for negotiations, stressing that the ceasefire conditions must be strictly adhered to in order to facilitate productive talks.

A growing chorus of disapproval from US lawmakers on Capitol Hill today is directed squarely at former President Trump, as fresh Consumer Price Index figures reveal a sharp spike in inflation, with the escalating conflict between the US and Iran over Israel being cited as a key factor driving up prices.

Despite the absence of a ceasefire, the Lebanese government has expressed its desire for a peaceful resolution. According to a government source, a crucial three-way conference is scheduled to take place later this evening. The conference will bring together the US ambassador to Lebanon, who will be joining remotely from Beirut, and the ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon to the US in Washington. This diplomatic initiative aims to establish a preliminary meeting date, paving the way for potential negotiations. However, the endeavor faces significant hurdles, including the lack of a ceasefire and internal opposition within Lebanon.

Hezbollah’s key demands include an unconditional Israeli withdrawal and the requirement that any future talks be facilitated by a neutral intermediary. In a recent demonstration in Beirut, hundreds of Hezbollah supporters gathered outside Parliament, waving flags in support of the Amal Movement and Hezbollah. Their protest was a direct response to the prime minister’s call for the disarmament of Hezbollah, which they perceive as a threat to their security and a betrayal of the state’s responsibility to protect them.

A senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, Negar Mortazavi, believes Israel’s intensifying strikes in Lebanon are deliberately designed to disrupt the fragile ceasefire negotiations and lure Iran back into the conflict. According to Mortazavi, Israel may be acting without explicit US backing, aiming to undermine the ceasefire and prompt Iran to breach it, thereby reviving hostilities that have so far been avoided.

Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Ghalibaf has brought a delegation to Islamabad, where they are scheduled to engage in discussions with US officials, according to Iranian media sources.

A high-profile Iranian delegation has descended upon Islamabad for a series of crucial discussions, as confirmed by Iran’s state-run television network. Notably, the delegation comprises several influential lawmakers from Iran’s parliament, according to local media outlets.

According to a Qatari defence official speaking with Al Jazeera, the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which serves as a hub for US assets, does not house any US combat or logistical personnel involved in operations targeting Iran. This assertion comes in the wake of a series of attacks by Iran against Qatar and other Gulf nations that host US forces, which Tehran had accused of supporting the US military campaign, a claim the Gulf countries vehemently disputed.