US Vice President JD Vance (R) speaks during a press conference as Jared Kushner (L) and Steve Witkoff look on in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 12, 2026 (Reuters)
UPDATES: US War on Iran, Day 243 — Tehran In Discussions With Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan
UPDATE 1009 GMT:
The UN says more than 281,000 people have been displaced from their homes in Yemen by fighting since the beginning of August.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said humanitarian access has become increasingly difficult over the past three weeks. It cited damage to a key road linking Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city which is at risk of being surrounded by Houthi insurgents, to southern governorates. Aid supplies are now having to reach people in need through narrow mountain routes.
The OCHA called on fighters not to target civilians or aid convoys. “All parties must respect international humanitarian law and allow safe, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access so that aid can reach people in need.”
UPDATE 0819 GMT:
A vessel is afire after an apparent attack in the Strait of Hormuz.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations center reported, “The Master of a third-party vessel has reported sighting another vessel on fire. Status of crew is unknown.”
The incident occurred 17 km (9 nautical miles) north of Khasab, Oman.
UPDATE 0622 GMT:
Officials say US Vice President J.D. Vance has written Mohsen Rezaei, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, to test if there is common ground to avoid US strikes on the Islamic Republic.
The sources said the letter and follow-up discussions between US and Iranian officials have not included specific terms, focusing instead on a possible framework for negotiations.
The letter was sent last week through Qatari mediators and delivered on Sunday. Vance called for direct talks, offering to lead the US delegation. He proposed putting Iran’s nuclear program on the table from the outset.
Iran has said that discussion of the nuclear issue can only follow an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz and financial terms such as the lifting of US sanctions. However, an Iranian official said leaders received the proposal positively. Rezaei is expected to reply formally by Thursday.
Both sides said talks could begin as soon as next week in Qatar or Türkiye.
UPDATE 0621 GMT:
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say they downed an MQ-1 drone in the airspace east of the Strait of Hormuz.
UPDATE, OCT 29:
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired the Pentagon’s top military planner, Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, in his latest purge of senior commanders and officials.
There is no immediate replacement and no reason has been given for the firing.
Sylvia’s predecessor as head of strategy, plans and, policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee, was forced to retire last October.
UPDATE 0831 GMT:
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the meeting between Iranian, Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish military officials in Tehran was a “valuable opportunity” to advance dialogue on regional peace and security.
He cited an opportunity for “enduring cooperation”, but the nations need to agree on core principles, build trust, and display mutual respect for national sovereignty.
Sustainable security must be created by nations of the region, without foreign military interference, he added.
UPDATE 0635 GMT:
The Pentagon has told US legislators that the cost of the US War on Iran reached $47.1 billion by October 16.
Bombs, missiles, and other munitions accounts for more than 60 percent of the cost.
Analysts said the true figure is likely much higher, noting that damage to US bases and facilities from Iran’s retaliation may not be included.
UPDATE 0625 GMT:
International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi told a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, “Since June 2025, we have not identified any activity to repair or reconstruct any of the facilities damaged in the military attacks of 2025 and 2026.”
He emphasized that access to the facilities is necessary to verify their condition. “Iran has not provided the requested information and access” needed to verify its previously-declared nuclear material, including 440 kg (968 pounds) of high-enriched uranium.
ORIGINAL ENTRY: Officials from multiple countries are speaking of a deal, developed by regional governments from Iranian proposals, to end the US War.
Under the agreement, Iran would fulfil its offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within four days of US sanctions being lifted. In Yemen, Houthi insurgents would pull back fighters who have been taking territory from Saudi-backed government forces.
In September, Iran proposed a seven-day plan to end the war. The initiative was boosted last Thursday by a meeting of Foreign Ministers from four European and four regional states — including Saudi Arabia — trying to avert a renewal of US and Israeli strikes.
The Trump Administration is aware of the talks. European powers indicated that it wants an assurance of Tehran’s readmission of UN nuclear and weapons inspectors.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband urged Tehran to agree when he met the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New York last month. However, Iran is insisted that detailed talks on its nuclear program must follow agreement over the Strait and sanctions removal.
Meanwhile, Iran and its Houthi allies are consulting over a deal for Yemen. Tehran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, met Houthi Ambassador Ibrahim al-Dulaimi on Tuesday.
A day earlier, Iran hosted a high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan to discuss Saudi terms over Yemen and longer-term security arrangements for the region.
In return for its pullback of fighters, who have advanced along the Red Sea coast and surrounded Yemen’s third-largest city Taiz, the Houthis are demanding that Saudi Arabia lift a naval and air blockade on Houthi-held territory.
Oman Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said he believed the Trump Administration understood the region is moving towards a security and non-aggression pact.
I think if Iran is fully re-engaged in this idea of having all of us, eight countries at peace with the rest of the world, the economic potential is going to be enormous for all of us in the region and those outside the region who choose to take part in this development.
We have really discussed this in at length during the talks between Iran and the United States, and I think there is general acceptance that this will be the direction of travel once we have a deal in place at the end of the day.
