Iran presents framework to ´permanently end´ war with US

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday said that Tehran has shared a framework aimed at "permanently ending" the ongoing conflict with the United States in West Asia, outlining its position during discussions with the Pakistani leadership, reported ANI.

In a post on X, following his departure from Islamabad after a day of high-level meetings with the Pakistani leadership, Araghchi said that Iran had shared its position on a workable framework to permanently end the war and added that it remains to be seen whether the US is genuinely committed to diplomacy.

"Shared Iran's position concerning a workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran. Have yet to see if the U.S. is truly serious about diplomacy," the Iranian FM said in his post.

This comes after the Iranian delegation, led by Araghchi, departed Islamabad on Saturday evening after a day of high-level meetings with the Pakistan leadership, leaving Pakistan's ambitious claims of brokering a US-Iran peace deal as part of the second round of negotiations in tatters.

As reported by Al Jazeera, the delegation left the Pakistani capital after delivering an "official list of demands" to Pakistani leaders for the US and Israel in order to achieve a complete solution to the conflict in West Asia.

According to a statement issued by Araghchi on Telegram, the Iranian Foreign Minister explained Iran's "principled positions regarding the latest developments related to the ceasefire and the complete end of the imposed war against" the Islamic Republic by US and Israeli forces to the Pakistani side.

This weekend's diplomatic theatre is rapidly mirroring the failures of the past. The first round of talks earlier this month hosted in Islamabad - featuring US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliamentary Speaker MB Ghalibaf - dragged on for a gruelling 21 hours without yielding any breakthrough.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he had cancelled the scheduled trip of Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Senior Adviser Jared Kushner to Islamabad due to "tremendous infighting and confusion" within Iran's leadership.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that he had called off the trip of his representatives who were scheduled to travel to Islamabad in what would have been the second round of peace talks with Iran aimed at achieving a comprehensive resolution to hostilities in West Asia.

"I just cancelled the trip of my representatives going is Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians. Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their "leadership." Nobody knows who is in charge, including them," Trump stated in his post.

He also sought to put the onus on Iran for further talks.

"Also, we have all the cards; they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!" Trump's post added.

US continues Iran blockade

U.S. military forces continue to enforce "U.S. sanctions and fully implement the blockade against ships entering or departing Iranian ports," U.S. Central Command said on social media Saturday, reported Xinhua.

In a post on X, the U.S. Central Command said that 37 vessels have been redirected since the start of the blockade, noting a merchant vessel named Sevan, intercepted in the Arabian Sea earlier Saturday by the U.S. forces, is currently "complying with U.S. military direction to turn back to Iran under escort."

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on April 12 that the U.S. Navy would begin blocking ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz. His decision came after the first round of U.S.-Iranian talks on April 11 and 12 in Islamabad, Pakistan, failed to produce a peace deal.

In response to Trump's announcement, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that "any threat against the security of the Strait of Hormuz will have large-scale consequences for global trade."

On Saturday, Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, reiterated its pledge to react if the United States continues its "blockade, banditry and piracy" in the West Asia region.

Iranian FM arrives in Oman following Pakistan visit

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi arrived in Muscat on Saturday for talks with senior Omani officials on bilateral relations and regional developments, Iran's Foreign Ministry said, reported Xinhua.

The visit is the second stop on a regional tour that began Friday in Islamabad and will end in Russia. Araghchi is leading a diplomatic delegation.

In Islamabad, Araghchi met with Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency. He discussed Iran's position on ending the war involving the United States and Israel, as well as bilateral ties and broader regional developments.

Iran vows to react if US continues "blockade, banditry" in region

Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, vowed Saturday to react if the United States continues its "blockade, banditry and piracy" in the West Asia region.

It made the announcement in a statement carried by Iranian media while pointing to the U.S. naval blockade imposed on the Strait of Hormuz, which prevents vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports from transiting the waterway, and actions against Iran-bound ships over the past few days.

It called on the United States to know that Iran's armed forces are more powerful and prepared than before to defend the country's national sovereignty and interests as well as territorial integrity, adding the U.S. army experienced part of Iran's power and offensive capabilities during the recent war.

It said Iran's armed forces are ready and determined to, while monitoring the "enemies' behavior and movements" in the region and continuing their management and control over the Strait of Hormuz, inflict more severe damage on the U.S. and Israeli "enemies" if they repeat their "aggression."

Also on Saturday, Saudi state-linked Al Arabiya News, citing a source, reported that Iran will not acquiesce to negotiations involving red lines set by the United States.