LIVE! Iranian delegation leaves Pakistan; Trump cancels US team's visit
Iran FM Abbas Araghchi met Pakistan’s civil and military leaders, discussing regional situation and US peace dialogue as prospects for second US-Iran talks this week fade
Here is the top, trending news of Saturday, April 25, 2026, including Indian politics, states' politics, geopolitics, federal issues, economics, development issues, sports, entertainment, and so on.
Read updates below.
Live Updates
- 25 April 2026 6:21 PM IST
Pentagon: Clearing Iranian mines in Strait of Hormuz could take six months
US officials have informed the lawmakers that it would likely take six months to clear the mines that Iran has set in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive information. The information was delivered during a classified briefing at the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday (April 21).
When asked about the estimate, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters on Friday (April 24) that the military would not speculate on a timeline, but he did not deny it.
“Additionally, our mine sweepers are clearing the Strait right now,” Trump said on social media on Thursday (April 23). “I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled-up level!” Adm. Brad Cooper, the top US commander in the Middle East, recently told reporters that the military would be working to clear mines from the strait. He did not offer details. - 25 April 2026 6:15 PM IST
US searches for naval mines to reopen Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump said the US Navy is clearing Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz, a vital sea route for oil shipments whose disruption is increasingly threatening the global economy.
Sweeping for underwater explosives could take months despite a tenuous ceasefire between the US and Iran in the ongoing war, experts said. Any future claims that the US cleared the waterway where 20 per cent of the world's oil typically passes might fail to convince commercial freighters and their insurers that it is finally safe.
Seeking out mines is one of the latest tactics announced by the Trump administration to get traffic moving again through the strait, as rising energy prices and wider economic effects pose a political risk. The US has also blockaded Iran's ports, seized ships tied to Tehran and planned to take part in a second round of ceasefire talks in Pakistan this weekend.
- 25 April 2026 4:20 PM IST
Iran executes man accused of Mossad ties and protest role
Iran on Saturday carried out the execution of a man accused of links to Israel’s Mossad intelligence service and involvement in anti-government demonstrations earlier this year.
Erfan Kiani’s hanging adds to a growing run of executions that have followed both the recent conflict and the wave of protests that spread across the country in January.
According to Mizan, the judiciary’s official news outlet, Kiani had been convicted on several counts, including taking part in attacks on security forces in the city of Asfahan during that period of unrest.
The agency said he had been on a “mission for Mossad,” but did not provide supporting evidence for the claim.
Rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about Iran’s judicial process, pointing to trials held behind closed doors where defendants are often denied a meaningful chance to contest the charges against them.
In recent weeks, authorities have stepped up executions tied not only to alleged espionage but also to protest activity and suspected connections with opposition figures based outside the country.
- 25 April 2026 4:15 PM IST
Araghchi meets Munir as Pakistan pushes US-Iran talks
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir in Islamabad on Saturday, as Pakistan continued efforts to keep communication open between Washington and Tehran. A brief video released by the Iranian embassy showed senior officials from both sides present, including Kazem Gharibabadi, Esmaeil Baghaei and Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi. No details of the exchange were disclosed.
Araghchi, who arrived late Friday, is expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Whether any direct contact between Iran and the United States will occur during the visit remains uncertain. “No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US. Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan,” Baghaei said.
Before departing, Araghchi described his trip to Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow as an effort to “closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments,” adding, “Our neighbours are our priority.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s foreign minister Ishaq Dar expressed hope for “meaningful engagements” as Islamabad continues to press for renewed dialogue following inconclusive talks earlier this month.
- 25 April 2026 2:54 PM IST
Iran resumes commercial flights from Tehran's international airport
Iran resumed commercial flights from Tehran's international airport on Saturday for the first time since the conflict with the US and Israel began about two months ago.
Iran's state-run television reported that flights took off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran bound for Istanbul, Oman's capital of Muscat and the Saudi city of Medina.
Flightradar24, a flight tracking platform, showed that at least three Istanbul-bound flights departed Saturday morning.
Iran partly reopened its airspace earlier this month amid a ceasefire with the US, which halted fighting between the two countries.
- 25 April 2026 12:10 PM IST
No clarity on US-Iran talks as Islamabad stays under security lockdown
Large parts of Pakistan's capital remain under a tight security lockdown for over a week on Saturday (April 25), even as uncertainty persisted over the proposed second round of talks between the US and Iran. Arterial roads leading into Islamabad are sealed, while the Red Zone, housing key government buildings and diplomatic missions, remains under a strict security cordon.
In the adjacent commercial “Blue Area”, markets are deserted, cafes are running short of supplies, and public transport disruptions with no service at bus terminals have left commuters stranded. For residents, uncertainty has become the hardest part. Islamabad is a city of transients, where many residents work during the week and return to family homes at the weekend.
This is the second lockdown in recent weeks. Islamabad was earlier sealed on April 11 for talks between the US and Iranian delegations that ended without a deal. The city briefly reopened before restrictions were reimposed as Pakistan prepared to host another round of engagements, which has yet to materialise.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad late Friday (April 24) for engagements with the Pakistani leadership. He was received by senior officials, including Army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, foreign minister Ishaq Dar, and interior minister Mohsin Naqvi. However, there is no clarity on whether direct talks between Washington and Tehran will take place during the visit.
"No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US. Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan," Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said in a social media post on Saturday. He said the Iranian delegation arrived in Islamabad "for an official visit" and Araghchi will be "meeting with Pakistani high-level officials in concert with their ongoing mediation and good offices for ending the American-imposed war of aggression and the restitution of peace in our region".
As the Iranian team landed in Islamabad, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that US Special Envoy on the Middle East Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's adviser Jared Kushner would be leaving for Pakistan on Saturday "to engage in direct talks" with representatives of the Iranian delegation.
“Everyone will be on standby to fly to Pakistan, if necessary, but first, Steve and Jared will be going over there to report back to the president, the vice president, and the rest of the team,” she said.
However, the US team has not yet arrived.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar, in a social media post, expressed hope for "meaningful engagements" between the two warring parties to promote regional peace and stability. The Foreign Office in Islamabad said Iranian foreign minister Araghchi will hold meetings with Pakistan’s senior leadership to discuss the latest regional developments as well as ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability.
"Following key discussions with the Pakistani mediation team, a second round of peace talks between the United States and Iran is expected to be held in Islamabad on Saturday and Sunday," a government official said. He said a US logistics and security team is already present in Islamabad to facilitate the negotiation process.
Araghchi, before leaving for Islamabad, said that he was embarking on a timely tour of Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow, and the purpose of his visits is to "closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments".
"Our neighbours are our priority," he said.
The first round of US-Iran talks held on April 11 and 12 failed to produce a breakthrough, prompting a flurry of diplomatic efforts by host Pakistan to cool tensions and revive hopes for another round of dialogue.
On Tuesday, Trump extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran indefinitely to give Tehran more time to prepare a unified proposal to end the war, just hours before the truce was set to expire. The Iran war began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes.
- 25 April 2026 11:13 AM IST
Israel, Hezbollah trade blame over ceasefire violations
Days after Donald Trump announced a three-week extension of the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, both sides are again trading accusations of breaking the agreement.
The Israel Defence Forces said the most recent incident involved Hezbollah sending explosive-laden drones toward Israeli troops operating in southern Lebanon. The military described the launch as a clear and deliberate breach of the truce, though it reported no casualties, repprted the BBC.
Hezbollah, for its part, rejected the allegation as one-sided. The group said it carried out five separate strikes on Israeli soldiers and unmanned aircraft over the course of Friday afternoon and evening. It framed those attacks as retaliation, arguing Israel had already violated the ceasefire terms.
The exchange reflects how brittle the pause in fighting remains, with each side asserting it is responding defensively while holding the other responsible for escalating tensions.
- 25 April 2026 11:10 AM IST
Bessent rules out new waivers for Russian, Iranian oil
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday the United States will not extend a temporary waiver that had allowed purchases of Russian oil already in transit. A similar reprieve for Iranian shipments, he made clear, is not under consideration.
“Not the Iranians,” Bessent told The Associated Press. “We have the blockade, and there's no oil coming out.” He added that Iran could soon be forced to halt production, warning of potential damage to its wells within days.
His remarks land at a tense moment. The US-Israeli war involving Iran has rattled global energy markets, compounded by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route.
The waiver for Russian oil, introduced in March after prices climbed past $100 a barrel, was meant as a stabilizing measure. Though briefly renewed despite earlier signals it would lapse, Bessent now suggests that window has closed.
He pointed to appeals from poorer nations but indicated further relief is unlikely.
- 25 April 2026 7:28 AM IST
Indian envoy meets US energy secretary
India’s Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Friday met US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and discussed the energy partnership between the two countries.
Kwatra received Wright and his wife, Liz, at the India House. “Honoured to host @SecretaryWright and Mrs. Wright at India House. Productive conversation on a range of subjects, including the India-US energy partnership,” Kwatra said in a post on X.
The US is keen to cooperate with India on civil nuclear cooperation in addition to other areas, such as coal gasification and US LPG exports.
India has increased its energy imports from the US over the past year amid trade pact negotiations with Washington.
India is the largest buyer of US coal globally with coking coal contributing 40 per cent of the total 20 million tonnes (mt) of coal imported by New Delhi from the US in FY25.
Earlier this week, GAIL (India) Limited flagged off an LNG vessel from a US terminal, signalling deeper India-US cooperation in securing cleaner fuel supplies.
The LNG vessel Energy Fidelity was flagged off on April 20 from the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal by India’s Consul General in Houston, D C Manjunath.
“GAIL (India) Limited proudly marks a significant milestone in India’s global energy journey,” the company said on Tuesday. It described the development as part of its long-term LNG shipping portfolio.
- 25 April 2026 6:54 AM IST
No direct negotiations, says Iran
Shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi touched down in Pakistan, his government made it clear that there would be no direct negotiations with American government representatives during this visit. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmael Baqaei said on X that “No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US.” Instead, Baqaei said Pakistani officials would convey messages between the delegations.
Baqaei thanked the Pakistani government for its “ongoing mediation & good offices for ending American-imposed war of aggression.”
The White House said earlier Friday that its envoys would meet Araghchi.
