US Israel Iran War LIVE Updates: Suspense over ceasefire talks in Pakistan, Iran denies delegation's visit

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.