War in the Middle East: latest developments
"So far, no delegation from Iran has departed for Islamabad, Pakistan; whether it is the main or subsidiary delegation; primary or secondary," Iranian state TV said, dismissing reports suggesting otherwise.
Infographic with a map showing the "forward defence line" which marks, since April 19, a zone in southern Lebanon occupied by the Israeli army which has warned residents not to return to this area (Graphic by AFP)
PARIS - The latest developments in the Middle East war:
End of ceasefire
The two week ceasefire between the United States and Iran will expire at midnight GMT Tuesday, Iran state television said.
Earlier, mediator Pakistan said the truce would expire at 2350 GMT on Tuesday.
Lebanon ups toll
Lebanon raised the toll from six weeks of war between Israel and Hezbollah to 2,454 dead as a fragile 10-day ceasefire holds.
Waiting on Tehran
Mediator Pakistan has yet to receive a formal response from Iran on whether it would send a delegation for a second round of talks with the United States, Islamabad's information minister said.
US position called 'strong'
US President Donald Trump touted what he said was Washington's strong negotiation position as his envoys prepared for talks with Iran in Pakistan to end the Middle East conflict.
"We're going to end up with a great deal. I think they (Iran) have no choice ... We're in a very, very strong negotiating position," Trump told broadcaster CNBC.
Trump accuses Iran
"Iran has Violated the Cease Fire numerous times!" Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform, referring to the two-week truce set to expire by Wednesday, after which the Middle East potentially could plunge back into open conflict.
Kevin Warsh, U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee for Chair of the Federal Reserve, departs following his Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs confirmation hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on April 21, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Credit: AFP)
Seafarers' SOS
The head of the UN maritime agency appealed for help for thousands of seafarers stranded in the Gulf by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Around 20,000 seafarers and 2,000 ships have been stranded since US-Israeli strikes on Iran started the Middle East war on February 28, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Hezbollah mass burials
Hezbollah announced it will hold mass funerals in south Lebanon for 44 fighters killed during more than six weeks of war with Israel.
The Iran-backed group has not given the total number of its fighters killed since Israel launched a massive wave of airstrikes and a ground invasion in Lebanon last month.
No Iranian departure
"So far, no delegation from Iran has departed for Islamabad, Pakistan; whether it is the main or subsidiary delegation; primary or secondary," Iranian state TV said, dismissing reports suggesting otherwise.
A source familiar with the US planning for the talks told AFP that an American delegation will head to Pakistan "soon" for a new round of peace negotiations.
Israel pressure
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said his country's campaign in Lebanon relied on both military and diplomatic pressure to disarm Iran-allied Hezbollah.
"The overarching goal of the campaign in Lebanon is to disarm Hezbollah and remove the threat to the northern communities (of Israel), through a combination of military and diplomatic measures," Katz said.