US to demand freeing of American detainees in Iran as part of Islamabad negotiations - report
The Washington Post reported that it's not clear the grade of importance that the delegation, led by US Vice President JD Vance, will place on this demand.
Middle East
Voices from the Arab press: Internal Arab fractures amid Iran war
Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei suffers severe, disfiguring wounds, insiders report
US says Iran lost track of mine locations spread in Strait of Hormuz, complicating reopening - NYT
China plans to deliver air defense systems to Iran in coming weeks, US intelligence reveals - CNN
US intelligence reports that China is preparing to deliver air defense systems to Iran within weeks, using third countries to conceal the shipments, as tensions rise in the region.
US to demand freeing of American detainees in Iran as negotiatiors arrive in Islamabad
Iran lost track of mine locations spread in Strait of Hormuz • Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei suffers severe, disfiguring wounds • Iranian source says US has agreed to release frozen Iranian assets in Qatar
Iran retains thousands of missiles, ability to reactivate launchers - report
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had said that Iran's missiles had been "depleted and decimated" during a press conference, with US officials concerned that Iran may use the ceasefire to rearm.
US, Lebanon request Israel pause attacks against Hezbollah prior to talks - report
The report said the request was still under review by Netanyahu, with Lebanon earlier on Friday saying that the US would be mediating the talks.
Vance, Witkoff, Kushner arrive in Pakistan for talks with Iran
White House officials said they were skeptical that the talks could immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as both sides accused each other of breaking commitments made to secure the ceasefire.
Trump's peace board faces cash crunch, stalling Gaza plan, sources say
One source said that funding so far was under $1 billion, but did not provide further details. The Iran war "has affected everything," exacerbating previous funding difficulties, the source said.
IRGC commander, Iranian FM Araghchi clash over negotiating team before US-Iran talks - report
The sources shared that IRGC Commander-in-Chief Ahmad Vahidi is attempting to curb the authority of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
WATCH: IDF destroys Hezbollah rocket launcher that fired from inside school in Lebanon
"The IDF views with severity the Hezbollah terrorist organization’s cynical use of civilian infrastructure for military activity," the military said about the incident in the school.
Airline pilots fear retribution over refusing to fly in Middle East, aviators' group says
Airline pilots express widespread safety concerns flying in the Middle East during the Iran conflict, fearing retribution from airlines for refusing high-risk assignments.
Iran-linked ships drive traffic through Strait of Hormuz, ship tracking data shows
Despite a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the US, most vessels sailing through the Strait of Hormuz in the past day are linked to Iran, according to ship tracking data.
