A senior Iranian official says ‘blocked assets’ must be released before talks with the U.S. can begin.

In what appeared to be a new condition, Iran’s parliament speaker said that negotiations set for Saturday in Pakistan would not go ahead unless unspecified Iranian funds were released.

By Yeganeh Torbati and Leily Nikounazar

Vance says Islamabad talks will be ‘positive’ even as Iran casts doubt on attendance

US vice-president’s comments come ahead of negotiations in Pakistan intended to reach deal to end more than five-week war

US consumer inflation surges 3.3% year-on-year amid impact of Iran war

Gasoline prices surged by 21.2% between February and March – the largest monthly increase since the the government began publishing a gasoline price index in 1967.

Iran ceasefire under pressure as strikes in Lebanon continue ahead of talks

President Donald Trump accused Iran of “doing a very poor job” of opening the Strait of Hormuz to oil traffic, as shipping flows remained effectively blocked.

By Victoria Craw

JD Vance warns Iran against trying to ‘play’ the US in peace talks

US vice-president flies to Islamabad for negotiations as Iranians insists Israel end its offensive in Lebanon Middle East crisis – live updates JD Vance has warned Iran not to “try and play” the US at talks planned for Saturday in Islamabad, while Tehran said it would not take part until Israel stopped bombing of Lebanon. The US vice-president made the comments as he boarded a plane to Pakistan for negotiations that could determine whether a ceasefire holds or the war on Iran resumes with g...

By Julian Borger Senior international correspondent and William Christou in Beirut

There's growing disquiet in the military. The Iran war made it worse

Since Trump began his second term, his administration's use of the armed forces has left a growing number in the military unsettled, according to NPR interviews with service members and advocates.

By Kat Lonsdorf

JD Vance expects ‘positive’ US-Iran war talks as he departs for Pakistan

Vice president says Trump gave 'pretty clear guidelines' on talks, which will be productive if Iran does not 'play' US.

AMB GORDON SONDLAND: NATO blinked on Iran, and Trump has every right to be furious

A former U.S. ambassador to the EU argues NATO's hesitation after strikes on Iran emboldens adversaries and erodes the credibility of Western deterrence.

Behind China's 'active efforts' for an Iran ceasefire: Business trumps politics

The big risk for Beijing is that the Iran war drags down global demand for the exports that are driving China's economic growth.

Inside the Iran war decision making: NYT describes how Trump chose to go to war

An exclusive report published in the New York Times, with the title 'How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran' outlines how, in the run up to the Iran war, President Trump weighed his instincts to go to war against the deep concerns of his vice president and also a pessimistic intelligence assessment. FRANCE 24's International Affairs Editor Kethevane Gorjestani tells us more.

By FRANCE24

FTSE 100 flatlines ahead of Iran-US peace talks

The FTSE 100 closed down just 2.95 points at 10,600.53.

By Jeremy Cutler

US inflation jumped to 3.3% in March, the highest level in two years, driven by the war in Iran

Prices record their sharpest monthly increase — 0.9% — since May 2022, at the outset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

By Jesús-Sérvulo González Moreno

MAGA Rift Deepens As Trump Attacks Iran War Critics—Alex Jones And Candace Owens Respond - Forbes

MAGA Rift Deepens As Trump Attacks Iran War Critics—Alex Jones And Candace Owens Respond  Forbes

Ad-Vance party on thin ice: US Veep, tasked with salvaging war goals, heads to diplomatic frontlines in Pakistan

By CHIDANAND RAJGHATTA

Iran's last-minute, 2-point caveat for talks with US in Islamabad: Stop Lebanon war, and unfreeze assets

Iran has been unable to obtain tens of billions of dollars of its assets in foreign banks, mainly from exports of oil and gas, due to US sanctions

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.

Israeli society has 'allowed trauma to take over' and 'cares only about revenge'

While a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is holding, Israeli strikes on Beirut threaten to derail it and widen the current conflict. Indirect talks under Pakistani mediation begin on Friday, giving both sides 15 days to try to reach a lasting truce. Israeli writer and academic Dror Mishani tells RFI the conflict has already done serious damage at home, warning that Israeli society is being driven by trauma and a growing desire for revenge.

By RFI

"Low IQs, Stupid People": Trump Mocks Tucker Carlson, Other Right-Wingers Over Iran War Stance

Trump slammed Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly - two former Fox News hosts - as well as Candace Owens and Alex Jones, two podcasters in his latest social media post.

China's factories snap years-long deflation spell on Iran war price shock

Trump says U.S. is readying military if Iran fails to comply – report

‘No Plan B’: Bilawal warns of fallout if US-Iran talks fail

Says the international community doesn’t have a plan B so plan A needs to achieve a peaceful resolution

By Web Desk

Trump warns of force as US deploys warships ahead of Iran talks

U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington is deploying warships equipped with advanced weaponry as a U.S. delegation heads to Pakistan for talks with Iran, warning that military...

Speculation Surges That Pakistan Talks Are A Delay Tactic Ahead Of Expanded US Action On Iran

Speculation Surges That Pakistan Talks Are A Delay Tactic Ahead Of Expanded US Action On Iran President Trump has made clear that American forces will still be "hanging around" the Persian Gulf area with an eye on Iran, while demanding that the Strait of Hormuz be opened to global energy transit once again.  Trump has vowed to keep troops positioned for a fight "until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with." As direct US-Iran talks are set for Islamabad S...

By Tyler Durden

God Isn’t Good Enough – The Pope and the US Bishops Are Threatening the Catholic Vote for Trump and His Successors

Trump tries to muscle the Holy See as Catholic voters turn against him and the Iran war.

By Yves Smith

Iran sets conditions as Vance warns Tehran not to ‘play’ US at talks

Iran demands a truce in Lebanon and release of its assets before US-Iran talks, as US Vice President Vance warns Tehran not to ‘play’ Washington. Read More: https://punchng.com/iran-sets-conditions-as-vance-warns-tehran-not-to-play-us-at-talks/

By Punch Newspapers

US inflation surges 3.3% as Iran war impact bites

The nationwide sticker shock put pressure on President Donald Trump, who has ordered peace talks with Iran and faces mid-term elections in November. The post US inflation surges 3.3% as Iran war impact bites appeared first on Vanguard News.

By Akinbayo Wahab