US Iran war Highlights: Iran announces reopening of airspace for international flights from Saturday

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that his country has begun a process to achieve a historic peace between Israel and Lebanon. In a video statement released by his office, Netanyahu also said that it was clear to us that Hezbollah is trying to sabotage the process. He was referring to direct negotiations underway between the two countries — which don’t have formal diplomatic relations — for the first time in decades.

Russian ⁠Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his ⁠Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq ⁠Dar, have discussed ‌the situation in the region.

Their phone call today came before a visit by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to both countries.

US President Donald Trump is sending special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan for talks with Iran's foreign minister, CNN reported on Friday, citing two administration officials familiar with the matter

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's regional tour will include consultations on the latest efforts to end the US-Israel war against Iran, a foreign ministry spokesperson tells state media.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a social media post that the purpose of his upcoming tour to Islamabad, Pakistan; Muscat, Oman; and Moscow is to “closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments.”

Araghchi’s comments didn’t address any possible resumption of talks with the U.S., but Pakistani officials have been intensifying efforts in recent weeks to get the U.S. and Iran to a second round of ceasefire negotiations.

European leaders have said that it is still premature to consider lifting sanctions on Iran, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.

EU Council President Antonio Costa told a joint news conference in Cyprus that it is “too early” to discuss easing restrictions.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also echoed that position, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said EU leaders could consider gradually lifting sanctions if a comprehensive agreement is reached with Iran.

Iran has announced the reopening of its airspace for international routes. According to Ahura Mohammadi, director of public relations of Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran, international passenger flights at the airport will resume from Saturday with three flights.

According to the semi-official ISNA news agency, international flights to Istanbul, Turkey and Muscat, Oman, will resume from the airport.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will hold bilateral talks during a brief visit to Pakistan on Friday, two Pakistani sources aware of the talks told Reuters.

Araghchi will discuss his side of the proposal for talks with the United States over the Iran war, which will then be conveyed to Washington, the sources said. Earlier, Iran had confirmed that Araghchi would travel to Islamabad, but did not clarify on the next round of talks with the US.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday that his government is in talks with Iran to allow two Malaysian-owned tankers carrying fuel supplies to pass through.

The vessels have exited the Strait of Hormuz but face severe restrictions despite earlier clearance given by the Iranian government, he was cited as saying by the national Bernama news agency.

One Malaysian vessel has earlier reached home and another is expected to enter Malaysian waters soon, he said. Another is stranded at port due to technical problems, he added.

The UN has said that a total of six of its United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon staffers have been killed since Israel launched its campaign in Lebanon.

Cpl. Rico Pramudia “tragically succumbed to his injuries” at a hospital in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, UNIFIL said on Friday. The Indonesian peacekeeper was wounded in an Israeli attack on southern Lebanon in late March.

The agency called on regional actors to “ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property at all times.”

“Deliberate attacks on peacekeepers are grave violations of international humanitarian law… and may amount to war crimes,” the UN said.

Iran on Friday confirmed that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is heading to Islamabad. According to Iran’s state IRNA news agency, Araghchi will also be travelling to Oman and Russia

Araghchi will begin his “regional tour” this evening, IRNA said.

“The purpose of this trip is bilateral consultations, discussions on current regional developments, and the latest situation of the war imposed by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran,” the agency said.

Anwar Gargash, an advisor to the UAE President, has said that rebuilding trust between Abu Dhabi and Tehran will take “ages and ages,” after Iran targeted the United Arab Emirates during the Middle East conflict.

“You can’t be attacked with 2,800 missiles and drones and then talk to me about trust. That will take ages and ages,” Gargash said at a World Policy Conference in the town of Chantilly near Paris.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the US naval blockade of Iran’s ports “is growing and going global.” He said another aircraft carrier will join the blockade in the coming days.

“No one sails from the Strait of Hormuz to anywhere in the world without the permission of the United States Navy,” Hegseth said in a news briefing.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday said Iran had a chance to make a “good deal” with the United States, amid reports that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will arrive in Islamabad for new talks with Washington.

Hegseth added that 34 ships had been turned around from the Strait of Hormuz by the US Navy so far, amid a naval blockade on Iran’s ports.

The IDF has confirmed that one of its drones was shot down by Hezbollah over Tyre in southern Lebanon on Friday afternoon.

The military said Hezbollah hit the unmanned aerial vehicle with an anti-aircraft missile.

“The incident is under investigation,” the IDF added.

The White House said that Trump issued a 90-day extension to the Jones Act waiver, making it easier for non-American vessels to transport oil and natural gas in the wake of the Iran War.

Trump first announced a 60-day waiver in mid-March and the move has been seen as helping to stabilize energy prices and making it easier for more ships to travel to the US following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Vice President Esmael Saghab Esfahani has warned that any strike on the country’s oil wells would prompt a retaliatory attack. “Our country’s response to any possible attack will go beyond an eye for an eye,” Esfahani said in a statement carried by the semi-official Mehr News Agency.

“If any of our oil wells are hit, one of the oil phases of the countries from whose territory the attack is launched against us will be targeted,” he added.

A US-sanctioned vessel sailing under the Curaçao flag traversed the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s semi-official Mehr News agency has reported. The Cuba supertanker “recently passed through the Strait of Hormuz” and anchored east of Larak Island, the report said. The ship has been on the US sanctions list since 2024 for transporting Iranian oil shipments to China, Mehr News added.

Pakistani officials have said that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to travel to Islamabad by this weekend, even as there is no clarity on if and when the second round of peace talks between the US and Iran will be held.
Two Pakistani officials told The Associated Press on Friday about the visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. They declined to provide any other details, other than to say he would be accompanied by a small government delegation and could arrive as soon as Friday. Pakistan has been trying to restart ceasefire talks between Iran and the United States.

The sculpture of Jesus on the cross, in a small shrine in the southern Lebanese village of Debel, had been defaced by an Israeli soldier, drawing widespread condemnation.

Israel’s military said Tuesday that it replaced the sculpture. But Akel Naddaf, head of the municipality of Debel, told The Associated Press Friday that the family whose property the crucifix was on rejected the Israeli military’s offer.

Instead, Naddaf said the destroyed crucifix was replaced by one provided by Italy via its peacekeepers in the United Nations force known as UNIFIL. It was erected in a small ceremony attended by clergy and local residents as well as peacekeepers.