Iran War Updates: Vance says he believes ceasefire negotiations with Iran will be 'positive'

US President Donald Trump slammed Iran over its control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz as leverage in their negotiations for a peace deal, noting that Tehran does not have any "cards" in their hands apart from the critical waterway. In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticised Tehran's proposal to impose transit fees on vessels crossing the Strait, stating that "the only reason" the US did not obliterate the Islamic Republic is to negotiate.

Japan said it is deeply concerned about escalating Israeli attacks on Lebanon, urging all parties to immediately stop hostilities and comply with international law. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, in a statement Friday, expressed Japan’s “serious concern” over Israel’s ground operation against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, calling for respect for Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The largest monthly jump in gas prices in six decades caused a sharp spike in inflation in March, creating major challenges for the inflation-fighters at the Federal Reserve and heightening the political challenges of rising costs for the White House. Consumer prices rose 3.3% in March from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Friday, up sharply from just 2.4% in February. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.9% in March from February, the largest such increase in nearly four years.

Boarding Air Force Two on his way to Pakistan, US Vice President JD Vance said, “We’re looking forward to the negotiation. I think it’s gonna be positive. We’ll, of course, see.” He cited Trump in saying, “If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand.” But Vance also added, “If they’re gonna try and play us, then they’re gonna find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.”

In the first official statement from the militant group since Israel announced it would enter into direct negotiations with Lebanon, Hezbollah chief Naim Kassem said, “We call on (Lebanese) officials to stop offering free concessions,” but did not take a clear stance on the prospect of talks. Kassem praised the performance of Hezbollah fighters battling Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and said Israel had been unable to make significant advances.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that restoring access to the Strait of Hormuz is crucial for strengthening what he described as a "fragile" ceasefire in the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Speaking as he wrapped up a three-day visit to Qatar, Starmer noted that regional leaders were clear that commercial shipping must not face “tolling or restrictions” at the vital maritime chokepoint, which remains effectively shut by Iranian actions.

The World Health Organisation said Israeli forces had previously issued an evacuation order for Beirut’s Jnah area, which includes the Rafik Hariri — the main public hospital in the city — and Al Zahraa Hospital. WHO’s top representative in Lebanon said Friday that Israel provided “assurance” after late-night talks with U.N. officials that Israeli forces would not attack the hospitals as they continue military action against Hezbollah. Dr Abdinasir Abubakar, speaking to reporters in Geneva, said UN officials “got some assurance back saying that these two hospitals will not be attacked."

The most high-profile attenders are expected to stay in Islamabad’s exclusive five-star Serena hotel, which may also play host to the talks. The hotel was cleared of its guests, and the surrounding roads in a 3-kilometre radius have been closed for traffic and put under army control.

Other possible venues cited by officials were the prime minister’s secretariat, Islamabad’s convention centre or a secure military location.

Officials said that delegations from Gulf countries, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which have faced heavy bombardment from Iran since the war began, would also be travelling to Islamabad and may take part in sideline talks. Due to the high security risks involved, Pakistani officials confirmed that there were three to four possible venues being lined up for the critical meeting between Iran and the US.

Anwar Gargash said on Friday that the United Arab Emirates will review its regional and global relationships to identify more reliable partners, amid evolving geopolitical challenges.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing conflict, Gargash noted that the UAE is looking to strengthen its strategic model through deeper economic and financial frameworks, signalling a shift towards more resilient and trusted international partnerships.

Khawaja Asif has sparked controversy with remarks describing Israel as a “curse for humanity” and a “cancerous state”, comments that could complicate the upcoming US Iran ceasefire talks scheduled in Islamabad.

The statement drew a sharp response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who termed the remarks “outrageous and unacceptable”.

In a post on X, Asif criticised Israel over its actions in Lebanon and other parts of West Asia, alleging that civilians were being killed across multiple locations, including Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon. The post was later deleted.

Negotiators from Iran and the United States prepared on Friday for high level talks scheduled to begin a day later in Islamabad, aiming to stabilise a fragile ceasefire strained by ongoing exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as tensions linked to Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz.

US Vice President JD Vance was set to depart from Washington, while Iran had yet to confirm its delegation, signalling its attempt to pressure the US to rein in Israeli strikes in Lebanon. The semi official Tasnim News Agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that the talks could “remain suspended” if the situation does not change.

Meanwhile, Kuwait said it faced a drone attack on Thursday night, blaming Iran and allied militia groups in the region. Although the Revolutionary Guard denied carrying out any such strike, it has previously been linked to operations across the Middle East that were not officially acknowledged.

In a parallel diplomatic effort, negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are also expected to begin next week at the United States Department of State in Washington. According to a US official and another source familiar with the matter, the talks could provide a potential boost to broader ceasefire efforts in the region.

Air raid sirens were reported across the northern Galilee region after rockets were launched from southern Lebanon, according to multiple reports.

The Israeli military said that around 60 rockets were fired into northern Israel after midnight, with longer-range projectiles reportedly targeting the cities of Ashdod and Haifa, signalling a further escalation in cross-border hostilities.

S Jaishankar said in a post on X that he had a conversation with Toshimitsu Motegi of Japan.

“Good to speak with FM Toshimitsu Motegi of Japan,” he wrote.

Jaishankar added that they discussed recent developments in West Asia, including concerns around international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. He also expressed appreciation for Motegi’s condolences over the loss of Indian lives in the conflict.

US Vice President JD Vance has reportedly departed from Washington to Islamabad for the high-stakes ceasefire talks with Iran, but suspense remains on Tehran's participation.

Conflicting reports about Iran’s presence have cast doubt over whether the talks will proceed as planned, despite Pakistan’s mediation efforts.

US Iran war live updates: Hezbollah has reportedly launched rocket attacks targeting the Israeli cities of Ashdod and Haifa. Air raid sirens were sounded across the northern Galilee region, warning residents of incoming projectiles fired from southern Lebanon.

According to Al Jazeera, the Israeli military said that around 60 rockets were launched toward northern Israel, with some aimed at Ashdod and Haifa, marking a further escalation in cross border hostilities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian forces have successfully shot down Iranian-designed Shahed drones during the ongoing war with Iran, highlighting Kyiv’s extensive experience in countering such aerial threats.

He noted that Ukraine’s air defence systems, developed and refined over years of facing similar drone attacks, have proven effective against the low-cost but highly disruptive Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles, which have been widely used in conflicts across both Ukraine and the Middle East. 

Kuwait has condemned what it described as drone attacks carried out by Iran and its affiliated groups targeting key facilities on Thursday evening, calling the incident a violation of its sovereignty and airspace, according to the foreign ministry.

Earlier in the day, Kuwait’s state news agency reported that a National Guard site had been struck by drones, resulting in significant material damage, though no injuries were reported.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps denied any involvement, stating through state media that it had not launched attacks on Gulf countries during the ceasefire period and that any such operation would be officially announced.

Representatives from Iran and the United States are set to meet in Islamabad over the weekend for peace talks, following Pakistan’s role in mediating a ceasefire between the two sides.

The negotiations will be hosted at the Serena Hotel Islamabad, located close to key government buildings and diplomatic missions. According to Al Jazeera, the hotel has been requisitioned from Wednesday evening through Sunday to accommodate the high-level meetings.

Guests have been asked to vacate the premises, and security around the venue has been significantly tightened in preparation for the talks.

Iran has reportedly begun requiring oil tankers to pay a USD 1 per barrel transit fee in cryptocurrency for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The move is seen as an attempt to bypass international sanctions and avoid financial tracking.

The report highlights the rapid growth of Iran’s crypto sector, now estimated at USD 7.8 billion, with more than half of the activity linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and affiliated groups. These networks are said to use digital assets to fund trade, procure weapons, and facilitate commodity transactions.

According to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, Iran’s central bank has also accumulated at least $507 million worth of Tether, underscoring the country’s increasing reliance on cryptocurrency in the face of economic restrictions.

Washington has made its position clear, with the White House confirming that Vice President JD Vance will lead the American delegation. He will be joined by Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner.

On the Iranian side, however, the situation remains less certain. Earlier indications suggested that Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi would head the delegation. Ghalibaf, in particular, is a former commander of the influential Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

As Israel’s continued strikes test the fragile truce between Washington and Tehran, uncertainty has emerged over Iran’s participation in the upcoming peace talks in Islamabad. According to Al Jazeera, the Iranian delegation has not yet departed from Tehran for the crucial negotiations.

Abas Aslani, a senior research fellow at the Iran-based Centre for Middle East Strategic Studies, said the delay is linked to ongoing Israeli military actions in Lebanon. He noted that Iran’s position is that negotiations may not proceed if the strikes continue.

Aslani added that Israel’s attacks in Lebanon have introduced significant uncertainty around the planned talks, raising doubts about whether the diplomatic engagement in Islamabad will go ahead as scheduled.

Amid a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East, attention is firmly focused on Islamabad, which is set to host talks between the United States and Iran from April 11.

The Pakistani capital has been placed under heavy security, effectively turning parts of the city into a fortified zone. Security personnel have been deployed across key roads and around important government installations to ensure safety during the high-level meetings.

Visuals from Islamabad show the Red Zone under strict surveillance, with only limited civilian movement permitted in the area as authorities tighten control in anticipation of the negotiations.