Times Of India | 16 April 2026 at 03:09:42 IST
Live updates of the news of the US-Iran-Israel war: Pakistan has intensified its diplomatic efforts to revive stalled US-Iran talks, with its army chief arriving in Tehran for high-level discussions aimed at securing a second round of negotiations after nearly seven weeks of conflict. Islamabad, which has hosted rare direct talks between the two sides, is emerging as a key mediator, and any new round would likely be held again in the Pakistani capital.
White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt said on Wednesday that the next round of peace talks between the United States and Iran will likely be held in Pakistan.
In response to a question about the location of the upcoming talks, White House press secretary Carolyn Levitt said that the discussions were “very likely” to be held in the same location as the previous round.
“It’s very possible that they are in the same place they were the last time,” Leavitt said during a news conference.
She stressed Islamabad’s role and added: “They (Pakistan) are the only mediator in these negotiations, while there are many countries around the world that want to provide their assistance.”
Even as back-channel diplomacy continues, tensions remain high. The United States continued its naval blockade of Iranian ports for the third day in a row, increasing economic pressure on Tehran. Officials in Washington have warned of further sanctions on countries and entities that do business with Iran, signaling what one senior official described as the “financial equivalent” of the bombing campaign.
The United States has deployed naval assets to monitor and control access to Iranian ports, with the aim of restricting Tehran’s oil exports, a major source of revenue. While Washington says shipping not linked to Iran can still pass through the Strait of Hormuz, military activity in the region has intensified.
President Donald Trump strengthened the hardline stance, announcing a comprehensive blockade. He said: “With immediate effect, the US Navy, the best in the world, will begin the process of blockading any and all ships that attempt to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz,” warning that “any Iranian who fires on us, or on peaceful ships, will fly to hell!”
Iran responded with strong warnings of its own, with the Revolutionary Guard warning that any mistake would put adversaries in a “deadly” situation in the strategic waterway, which Tehran says it fully controls.
The markets reacted nervously. Oil prices rose again above $100 a barrel, while global stocks fell on fears of prolonged energy supply disruptions. Analysts warn that the blockade may be seen as a continuation of hostilities, raising the possibility of further escalation, including strikes on critical energy infrastructure.
Key takeaways
The White House clarified that the United States has not formally sought to extend the ongoing ceasefire with Iran, even as diplomatic communication continues between the two sides.
Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt dismissed media reports suggesting otherwise. She said during a press conference, “The bad reports this morning indicate that we have officially requested an extension of the ceasefire. This is not true at this moment.”
She added: “We remain very engaged in these negotiations, in these conversations. You heard from the vice president and the president this week that these conversations are productive and ongoing, and that is where we are now.”
US-Iranian War: Advisor to the Iranian Supreme Leader threatens to sink US ships in the Strait of Hormuz
A senior military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader has warned that US naval forces could be targeted in the Strait of Hormuz if Washington tries to “monitor” the strategic waterway.
Mohsen Rezaei, former commander of the Revolutionary Guards, said that Iran would respond forcefully to any American military presence to impose control over the strait. “Mr. Trump wants to be a policeman in the Strait of Hormuz. Is that really your job?” He said on state television.
He added: “These ships of yours will be sunk by our first missiles… We can destroy them,” warning of grave dangers to American forces in the region. His comments come as the United States imposes a military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of conflict, which has now been halted under a fragile two-week ceasefire.
Rezaei, known for his hard-line views, said he personally opposed extending the ceasefire, and claimed that any potential US ground invasion would face strong retaliation.
Iranian war news: Araqchi thanks Pakistan for “generously hosting the dialogue”
– Aragchi (@araghchi)
Iran War News: “Stop crossing into Iran,” Trump shares US Navy video announcing the siege of Hormuz
— TrumpTruthOnX (@TrumpTruthOnX)
US war with Iran: The White House says the United States did not seek to extend the ceasefire
“You’ve seen some reports, again, bad reports this morning that we have formally requested an extension of the ceasefire,” says White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt. “That’s not true at this moment. We have remained very much engaged in these negotiations, in these talks. You’ve heard from the vice president directly and from the president this week that these talks are productive and continuing, and that’s where we are now. You’ve also seen some reports about the possibility of in-person discussions.”
She added: “Again, these discussions are taking place, but nothing is official until you hear from us here in the White House. But we feel good about the prospects for an agreement. The president mentioned that in his interview yesterday. It is clearly in Iran’s interest to meet the president’s demands. And I think he has made his red lines in these negotiations clear to the other side, and so we continue to see how these talks go.”
Iran War News: Iran used a Chinese satellite to target American bases, according to a report; Beijing rejects these accusations
Iran has secretly acquired a Chinese satellite that has been used to monitor and target US military bases across West Asia during the ongoing conflict, the Financial Times reported, citing leaked Iranian military documents.
According to the report, the TEE-01B satellite, built and launched by China’s Earth Eye Co., was acquired by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Aerospace Force after its deployment. Iranian commanders allegedly used it to track key US military sites, with images taken in March before and after drone and missile strikes.
The deal also gave Iran access to commercial ground stations operated by Beijing-based Embosat, allowing control of satellites and data services across multiple regions, the report said.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected these allegations and described them as false. She said in a statement: “Recently, some forces have been keen to fabricate rumors and maliciously link them to China.” He added that China strongly opposes this type of practice motivated by ulterior motives.
Iran War News: Senate Republicans reject efforts to stop the Iran war
The Republican-led Senate on Wednesday rejected the latest Democratic attempt to stop President Donald Trump’s war in Iran, ignoring a resolution requiring the United States to withdraw its forces from the conflict until Congress authorizes further action.
The 47-52 vote was the fourth time this year that the Senate has voted to cede its war powers to the president in a conflict that Democrats say is illegal and unjustified. Republicans say they will maintain confidence in Trump’s wartime leadership, for now, citing Iran’s nuclear capabilities, the possibility of ongoing talks, and the high risks of withdrawal.
Still, GOP lawmakers are eager for the conflict to end, and some are looking forward to future votes that could become an important test for the president if the war continues. The outcome of the war powers vote in the House of Representatives, expected this week, is also uncertain.
Under the War Powers Act of 1973, Congress must declare war a And authorize the use of force within 60 days of its beginning – a deadline that will arrive at the end of this month. The law provides for a possible 30-day extension of this deadline, but lawmakers have made clear they want the administration to soon develop a plan to end the conflict.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina said that after the 60 or 90 days expired, “it’s time to catch or cut bait.” “I think it would be wise for the administration to establish what might look like a well-grounded mandate for military force and a strategy for funding.”
Iran War News: US says Xi assured China ‘not to supply weapons to Iran’
The White House said that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured US President Donald Trump that Beijing is not supplying Iran with weapons during the ongoing conflict.
“President Xi has assured the President that they are not supplying weapons to Iran throughout this conflict, and that assurance has been provided to the President. The administration is clearly monitoring it closely,” White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Besent said Washington was closely monitoring financial flows linked to Iran and warned Chinese banks against possible action.
“I don’t have an update on tariffs, but I do have an update on sanctions,” Besant said. “Iran is, or used to be, the largest state sponsor of terrorism. China has been buying more than 90% of its oil, which represents about 8% of China’s energy needs. We believe that with this blockade in the Strait, there will be a pause in Chinese purchases.”
He added that two Chinese banks had received letters from the US Treasury. He added: “I will not mention the banks, but we told them that if we can prove that Iranian money is flowing through your accounts, we are ready to impose secondary sanctions.”
War between Israel and Iran: US President Xi Jinping told Trump that China will not supply weapons to Iran
US President Donald Trump said that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him that Beijing does not provide weapons to Iran, after an exchange of messages between the two leaders before the scheduled summit.
Speaking in an interview with Fox Business, Trump said he wrote to Xi after reports that China was supplying weapons to Tehran. “I wrote him a letter asking him not to do it, and he wrote me a letter saying, basically, he doesn’t do it,” Trump said.
Trump warned that countries that supply Iran with weapons could face severe sanctions, including tariffs of up to 50%, a move that could strain trade relations between the United States and China if implemented.
The exchange comes ahead of Trump’s scheduled visit to Beijing on May 14-15, at a time when relations between the world’s two largest economies are already under pressure due to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
While Beijing does not directly supply weapons to Iran, it has been reported to provide dual-use technology. The war further complicated relations, especially with the unrest in the Strait of Hormuz and Washington’s move to impose a blockade on Iranian ports after the failure of ceasefire talks.
‘Secondary sanctions if Iranian funds are traced’: US warns Chinese banks amid Hormuz siege
Iran War News: White House says Pakistan ‘very likely’ to be venue for upcoming US-Iran negotiation talks
White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt said that the next round of peace talks between the United States and Iran will likely be held in Pakistan.
In response to a question about the location of the upcoming talks, White House press secretary Carolyn Levitt said that the discussions were “very likely” to be held in the same location as the previous round.
“It’s very possible that they are in the same place they were the last time,” Leavitt said during a news conference.
She stressed Islamabad’s role and added: “They (Pakistan) are the only mediator in these negotiations, while there are many countries around the world that want to provide their assistance.”
Levitt also said that the US administration sees the importance of maintaining a simplified communication channel through Pakistan. She added: “The president feels it is important to continue to streamline these communications through the Pakistanis, and this is what is happening constantly.”
The statements come amid intensified diplomatic efforts to revive negotiations between Washington and Tehran in the wake of the inconclusive “Islamabad talks”, which failed to achieve progress on key issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.
In a parallel development, Pakistani Army Chief of Staff General Asim Munir recently arrived in Tehran, accompanied by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, in what is seen as a final attempt to revitalize the stalled talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi received the delegation, as reports indicated that Islamabad had a new American proposal setting a framework for resuming negotiations.
These diplomatic efforts come against the backdrop of a fragile two-week ceasefire and escalating tensions in the region, including a looming US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Live updates of the news of the US-Iran-Israel war: White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt said on Wednesday that the next round of peace talks between the United States and Iran will likely be held in Pakistan.
In response to a question about the location of the upcoming talks, White House press secretary Carolyn Levitt said that the discussions were “very likely” to be held in the same location as the previous round. “It’s very possible that they are in the same place they were the last time,” Leavitt said during a news conference.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s army chief arrived in Tehran for talks aimed at easing tensions and paving the way for a second round of US-Iranian negotiations after nearly seven weeks of war.
Islamabad, which hosted rare direct talks between the two sides, has emerged as the main mediator, with any new dialogue likely to take place in its capital.
Meanwhile, the United States continued its naval blockade of Iranian ports for the third day in a row, intensifying pressure on Tehran. US forces said they would intercept or divert ships operating along the Iranian coast as part of efforts to limit the country’s oil exports.
Washington has confirmed that international shipping not linked to Iran will remain permitted through the Strait of Hormuz, even as military activity in the region increases.
US President Donald Trump reinforced the hardline stance, announcing that the Navy would enforce the blockade. He added: “With immediate effect, the US Navy, which is the best in the world, will begin the process of blockading any and all ships attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz.”
He warned against severe retaliation, adding: “Any Iranian who fires on us, or on peaceful ships, will fly to hell!”
The latest developments come in the wake of the collapse of marathon talks in Islamabad led by Vice President J.D. Vance, which ended without an agreement.
The United States blamed Iran’s refusal to give up its nuclear program, while Tehran accused Washington of “extremism, changing goals, and blockade.”
The collapse has jeopardized the fragile ceasefire and raised fears of a broader regional escalation. Analysts warn that the blockade could be viewed as a continuation of hostilities, raising the risk of further escalation, including potential strikes on energy infrastructure with far-reaching global consequences.
