Good morning and welcome to the Guardian’s ongoing coverage of the situation in the Middle East.
The United States and Iran are sending mixed signals regarding the current state of peace negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict. President Donald Trump has indicated that discussions are progressing positively and that a resolution is “very possible.”
Conversely, Iranian officials are tempering expectations. State media sources report that Tehran is merely evaluating the U.S. peace proposal and plans to communicate its response through Pakistani intermediaries. Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee, characterized the U.S. proposal as an “American wish list” rather than a feasible plan.
Despite this, President Trump conveyed an optimistic outlook during a press briefing, suggesting that a deal could be imminent, albeit with some threats. “We’ve had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll make a deal,” he stated in the Oval Office. He added, “We’ll see whether or not they are agreeing. And if they don’t agree, they’ll end up agreeing shortly thereafter. That’s the way it is.”
In an interview with PBS, Trump expressed that there is a “very good chance” of ending the conflict, but warned, “If it doesn’t end, we have to go back to bombing the hell out of them.”
In related news, Trump recently reversed his decision regarding a U.S. military operation aimed at assisting ships in the Strait of Hormuz, known as “Project Freedom.” He stated that the operation was paused to give peace a chance, but NBC News reported that the mission was suspended after Saudi Arabia declined to allow U.S. forces to use its bases and airspace. U.S. officials indicated that Gulf allies were surprised by the abrupt announcement, which reportedly angered Saudi leadership.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian informed French President Emmanuel Macron that U.S. actions have strayed from diplomatic channels into threats, pressure, and sanctions, leading to a lack of trust in Washington. In remarks reported by Iran’s state-run Press TV, Pezeshkian noted that Iran has previously engaged in negotiations with the U.S., both times coinciding with military aggression against Iran, describing such behavior as akin to “stabbing from behind.”
Iran has denied any involvement in the recent damage to a vessel operated by South Korea in the Strait of Hormuz, which experienced an explosion and fire. Trump attributed the incident to an Iranian attack, while South Korea’s foreign ministry stated that the cause will only be determined following an inspection. The Iranian embassy in Seoul refuted the claims, asserting that safe navigation through the waterway requires compliance with Iranian regulations.
Furthermore, an analysis by the Washington Post revealed that the damage inflicted on U.S. military sites in the Middle East during the conflict is significantly greater than previously disclosed. The report, based on satellite imagery, found that Iranian airstrikes have caused damage to at least 228 U.S. structures or assets, including hangars, barracks, fuel depots, and critical defense equipment. The U.S. Central Command declined to comment on these findings.
In Lebanon, where a ceasefire has failed to halt hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, three individuals were reported killed in Israeli airstrikes in Nabatieh this morning, according to the Lebanese National News Agency. The Israeli military reported that one of its soldiers was seriously injured by an explosive-laden drone from Hezbollah in southern Lebanon yesterday, although the exact location of the attack was not disclosed.
In Gaza, where another ceasefire appears to be unraveling, an Israeli airstrike has reportedly claimed the life of Azzam Khalil al-Hayya, the son of Hamas political bureau leader Khalil al-Hayya. Azzam succumbed to his injuries following an attack in Gaza City last night, marking the fourth son of the exiled Hamas chief to be killed in Israeli operations.
Recent images from the Dahiyeh neighborhood in southern Beirut depict rescue efforts underway amid the debris of a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike yesterday. The Israeli military claims that a Hezbollah commander was killed in this strike, the first such action in the Lebanese capital in nearly a month.
Pakistan has positioned itself as a crucial mediator in the discussions between the U.S. and Iran, maintaining a hopeful stance about the potential for an agreement, though specifics on the negotiations remain undisclosed. Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi emphasized optimism regarding the possibility of a settlement occurring soon.
Andrabi stated, “What I can tell you, and this is what I have stated before, is that we remain positive, we remain optimistic, and we hope the settlement will be soon rather than later.” He suggested that while the initial round of talks took place in Islamabad on April 11, subsequent discussions might occur elsewhere, though he expressed pride in hosting any future agreements.
In comments today, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif noted that Islamabad is in “continuous contact with Iran and the United States, day and night, to stop the war and extend the ceasefire.”
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have reported the death of a commander from Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force in a strike in Beirut.
