Islamabad: President Donald Trump says he told top US envoys not to travel to Pakistan to negotiate with Iran, telling Fox News that “they can call us anytime they want.” In a brief phone interview on Saturday, Trump told Fox News that he told US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner “you’re not going to be making any more 18 hour flights to sit around talking about nothing.” Trump also said of the US side “we have all the cards.” His comments came after the White House said Friday that Witkoff and Kushner would be heading to Pakistan for another round of negotiations with Iran.Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Pakistan’s top civil and military leaders on Saturday and discussed the regional situation and the ongoing peace dialogue with the US, as the prospects for a second round of US-Iran talks this week appear to be diminishing.Araghchi, who arrived in Islamabad late on Friday, met Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir on Saturday, the Iranian Embassy in Pakistan said on X, but did not provide details about their discussions.The meeting, as shown in a brief video posted by the Iranian embassy on social media, was also attended by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, and Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam.Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and other officials were also part of the Pakistani side.“Araghchi met Munir in a formal huddle and discussed matters concerning peace talks with the US,” a senior government official said.The Iranian delegation later called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the two sides “reviewed bilateral matters as well as regional developments,” the Iranian embassy said.Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Munir were also present at the meeting, where the two sides discussed the situation in the region, the Prime Minister’s office said. (Agencies)Iran’s Foreign Minister leaves Islamabad without meeting US envoysApril 25, 2026 10:59 pmIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Pakistan on Saturday evening, two Pakistani officials told The Associated Press. He met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and other senior officials, the officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media. Aragchi’s visit comes amid regional tensions and efforts by Islamabad to facilitate a second round of talks between the United States and Iran. Two US envoys had been planning to fly in Islamabad on Saturday, but President Donald Trump said he told the top US envoys not to travel to Pakistan to negotiate with Iran, telling Fox News that “they can call us anytime they want.”.Iranian Foreign Minister meets Pakistan’s top leadership; discusses regional situation, US-Iran ceasefireApril 25, 2026 9:57 pmIslamabad: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Pakistan’s top civil and military leaders on Saturday and discussed the regional situation and the ongoing peace dialogue with the US, as the prospects for a second round of US-Iran talks this week appear to be diminishing. Araghchi, who arrived in Islamabad late on Friday, met Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir on Saturday, the Iranian Embassy in Pakistan said on X, but did not provide details about their discussions.Iran’s 57-day internet blackout becomes world’s longest nation-scale shutdown on record, says NetBlocksApril 25, 2026 8:01 pmCitizens in Iran have been subjected to a continuous internet blackout for 57 days, marking exactly eight weeks since the Iranian regime severed the country’s digital access, according to the internet monitoring watchdog NetBlocks. On Saturday, the watchdog highlighted the severe impact of the restriction, stating that “the disruption, now entering its 57th day after 1344 hours, stifles the voices of Iranians, leaves friends and family out of touch and damages the economy.” The total blackout was implemented immediately following the joint US and Israeli strikes on Tehran on 28 February. This prolonged shutdown has isolated the Iranian population from the global community during a period of significant regional instability.Iran’s foreign minister Araghchi meets Pakistan Army chief MunirApril 25, 2026 3:28 pmIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday met Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir here, as Islamabad continued its efforts to facilitate engagement between the US and Iran. The meeting, according to a short video posted by the Iranian embassy on social media, was also attended by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, and ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam. The Pakistani side included Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and other officials. Araghchi calls on Munir, the embassy said in the video caption. However, there is no clarity on whether direct talks between Washington and Tehran will take place during the visit. PTINo clarity on US-Iran talks as Islamabad stays under lockdownApril 25, 2026 1:17 pmIslamabad: Large parts of Pakistan’s capital remain under a tight security lockdown for over a week on Saturday, 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. PTITrump to send envoys to IslamabadApril 25, 2026 12:01 pmUS envoys are expected to travel to Pakistan on Saturday in a new bid to salvage ceasefire talks with Tehran, even as Iran ruled out direct negotiations with US representatives as its top diplomat arrived in Islamabad. APIran says no direct talks with US in Islamabad plannedApril 25, 2026 10:11 amWe arrive in Islamabad, Pakistan, for an official visit. FM Araghchi will be meeting with Pakistani high-level officials in concert with their ongoing mediation & good offices for ending American imposed war of aggression and the restitution of peace in our region.No meeting… pic.twitter.com/1vP51xIoep— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) April 24, 2026US guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta intercepts Iranian-flagged shipApril 25, 2026 8:23 amFlorida: In a significant maritime development, the United States Central Command has confirmed that the guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) successfully intercepted an “Iranian-flagged ship” during a mission. American naval authorities monitored the vessel on April 24 as it was “attempting to sail to a port in Iran” before the destroyer moved to halt its progress. The intervention was initiated specifically because the vessel was “attempting to sail to a port in Iran,” leading to a boarding and subsequent investigation by the crew. ANIIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi lands in IslamabadApril 25, 2026 7:51 amPakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Saturday (local time) welcomed Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Islamabad, expressing hope for talks focused on regional peace and stability. ANI