Day 3 of ceasefire: Pakistan to host US-Iran talks; visa-on-arrival for all delegates

'No talks while war on Lebanon continues': Iran military spokesperson

Iran will not hold talks "while the war on Lebanon continues," Ebrahim Zolfaghari said, adding there are "no negotiating delegation in Islamabad".

Zolfaghari serves as the military spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, a key command unit overseeing Iran's Regular Army and IRGC operations

Iran's Kamal Kharrazi dies: Iranian media

Iranian media reported that Kamal Kharrazi, Iran's Head of Strategic Council for Foreign Relations, succumbed to injuries he previously sustained in US-Israel strike.

Iran doing 'poor job' of allowing oil through Hormuz Strait: Trump

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Iran was doing a "very poor job" of allowing oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz.

"That is not the agreement we have!," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

US summons Iraq ambassador over drone strike on diplomatic facility: Reuters

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau summoned Iraqi Ambassador Nizar Khirullahon Thursday after a drone struck a major US diplomatic facility in Baghdad, the State Department said in a statement.

The US Embassy in Baghdad said earlier that Iraqi "terrorist militias," who Washington accused of being aligned with Iran, had conducted multiple drone attacks near the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Centre and Baghdad International Airport on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

The State Department said Landau acknowledged the Iraqi security forces' efforts to respond while emphasising "the Iraqi government's failure to prevent these attacks."

The State Department said Washington expects the Iraqi government to take measures to dismantle Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq.

It also said that "some elements associated with the Iraqi government continue to actively provide political, financial, and operational cover for the militias."

Air raid alerts sound across Israel

Air raid alerts rang out across Israel early Friday, including in the commercial hub of Tel Aviv and in the southern coastal city of Ashdod following rocket fire from Lebanon, AFP reported.

The Israeli army's Home Front Command issued alerts for several areas following Friday's rocket fire, including the Tel Aviv area and southern communities far from the Lebanon border.

There were no immediate reports of casualties, but Israeli media reported that air-defence systems had intercepted at least one incoming rocket.

Hezbollah posted several statements on Telegram saying it had launched three waves of rocket and drone strikes in the early hours of the morning against Israeli soldiers on both sides of the border as well as a town in northern Israel.

Visa-on-arrival for Islamabad Talks delegates

Pakistan's foreign minister Ishaq Dar said all delegates ,including journalists from participating nations, travelling in relation to Islamabad Talks 2026, will receive visa-on-arrival.

Dar asked airlines to permit boarding to all such individuals without visa.

Day 3 of ceasefire

All eyes will be on Islamabad as US and Iranian delegations today make their way to the Pakistani capital for direct talks on April 11, a significant step towards what the world hopes is a permanent end to the war.

Some have termed the ceasefire "fragile", with various actors involved in a conflict that has encompassed much of the region, with its effects spilling over into Asia and Europe. But the truce brings a much-awaited relief to many, signalling peace and a hope for a better tomorrow.

In a landmark move, US announced it will host a meeting to discuss ceasefire talks between Israel and Lebanon.

In the Gulf region, UAE announced its skies were clear of any threats on Day 2 of the ceasefire. However, on April 9, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy said that one Saudi national was killed and seven others were injured in "recent attacks" on several energy facilities in the Kingdom. In Kuwait, air defences responded to drone and missile attacks in the evening.

Stay tuned to Khaleej Times for latest updates on the ceasefire, talks between warring parties, and other significant developments in the region.