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China offers $200,000 emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran after school attack.
Iran says death toll of US-Israeli strikes reaches 1,230.
Iran's IRGC official says will burn any ship trying to pass through Strait of Horm.
Israeli PM says he supports temporary truce subject to Iran opening straits
ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday announced that an immediate ceasefire has been agreed between Iran and the United States, along with their allies, saying it applies "everywhere including Lebanon."
In a statement on X, the prime minister said the ceasefire has taken effect immediately.
"I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes," Sharif said.
The prime minister said both parties had demonstrated "remarkable wisdom and understanding" and voiced hope that the upcoming "Islamabad Talks" would lead to sustainable peace.
JERUSALEM -- Israel is continuing its strike against Iran despite a ceasefire declared by the United States and Iran, Israeli media quoted a security official as saying on Wednesday.
China is pushing for a return to talks and an immediate ceasefire as the Iranian conflict takes an intense turn ahead of the United States-imposed deadline on Tehran.
During a news conference on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China hopes for all the parties to show sincerity and quickly end this war that should not have happened in the first place.
She said the root cause of the tension lies in the unlawful use of force by the US and Israel against Iran, which violates international law.
Mao said force cannot bring peace and a political settlement is the only way forward, adding that the top priority is to bring an immediate end to the military operations and return to dialogue and negotiation, so as to fundamentally resolve the issues and restore peace and stability in the Gulf region.
She said the situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate, with hostilities still escalating and dragging down the global economy and energy security, which has caused deep concern in the international community.
Since the outbreak of the conflict, China has maintained an objective, fair and balanced position and worked consistently to promote a ceasefire and an end to the fighting, Mao said. Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held 26 phone calls with parties including Iran, Israel, Russia and Gulf countries, while the Chinese government's special envoy on the Middle East issue has engaged in shuttle diplomacy in the region, she said.
Mao added that China and Pakistan recently put forward a five-point initiative, reflecting the broad consensus of the international community in support of peace and an end to the war.
Reza Amiri Moghadam, Iranian ambassador to Pakistan, said in a post on X on Tuesday that Islamabad's "positive and productive endeavors" to stop the war were approaching a "critical, sensitive stage".
The United Nations said it was alarmed by an ultimatum Washington gave if Tehran continued to block the Strait of Hormuz, as a deadline the Trump administration had set inched closer.
"We were alarmed by the rhetoric seen in that social media post that threatened American attacks on power plants, bridges, and other infrastructure, should Iran not agree to a deal," Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, said at a news conference on Monday. He reiterated that the secretary-general "has been very clear on issues regarding international law", and he urges yet again all parties "to abide by their obligations regarding the conduct of these hostilities".
Iran has set preconditions for talks on a lasting peace with the United States, including an immediate halt to strikes, guarantees that attacks will not be repeated and compensation for damage, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing an anonymous senior Iranian official. The official said Tehran rejects any temporary ceasefire with the US.
Shipping fees
He added that a permanent peace deal should allow Iran to demand fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which would vary depending on the type of ship, its cargo and prevailing conditions, according to the report.
On Monday, Pakistan proposed a two-stage plan to end the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which included the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.
US President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday morning that Iran's "whole civilization will die tonight", the deadline he set for Iran to make a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, marking a possible sharp escalation in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will," Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.
As Trump's deadline loomed, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian took to X on Tuesday, saying over 14 million proud Iranians "have, up to this moment, declared their readiness" to sacrifice their lives in defense of their country.
According to a post by journalist Barak Ravid of the news site Axios on Tuesday, citing a US official, the US carried out "strikes on military targets" on Kharg Island located off Iran's western coast.
The Iranian Red Crescent said US-Israeli attacks hit 17 civilian areas across Iran on Tuesday and said in a statement on X that there was no justification for attacking civilians, reiterating that international law states that attacking defenseless civilians is a war crime. At least 15 people were killed overnight, Iranian media reported.
Attempts to de-escalate the situation are almost immediately overshadowed in the region by nonstop, intense tit-for-tat strike threats.
On Tuesday, Gulf countries spent another day repelling attacks in their respective territories with Saudi Arabia's ministry of defense reporting the interception and destruction of at least 18 drones "during the past hours". The King Fahd Causeway, which connects Saudi Arabia to Bahrain, was briefly suspended after Iranian attacks targeted Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, but was reopened a few hours later.
The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week pause in hostilities on Tuesday, with the US saying it would suspend attacks if Tehran fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump said he had talked with the prime minister of Pakistan, which has been acting as a mediator between the warring parties.
"Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, ?IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE," Trump posted.
The price of oil fell dramatically after the announcement, with May futures for West Texas Intermediate dropping nearly 19 percent to below $92 a barrel.
"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's armed forces and with due consideration to technical limitations," Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.
Reuters reported that ?the US had received a 10-point proposal from Iran, which Trump called "a workable basis ?on ?which to negotiate."
"Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated," Trump posted.
Iran's national television called the ceasefire a win.
"It was decided at the highest level that Iran will hold negotiations with the American side in Islamabad for two weeks," Iran's Supreme National Security Council said in a statement.
"It is emphasised that this does not mean an end to the war, and Iran will accept an end to the war only when — in view of Iran's acceptance of the principles envisaged in the 10-point plan — its details are also finalised in the negotiations," the council said.
Negotiations will begin in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday.
shiguang@chaindailyusa.com
WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he has agreed to "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks."
Trump wrote on social media that his decision is "subject to" Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East," Trump said.
"We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he said.
Trump described the two-week suspension as "a double sided ceasefire."
The ceasefire proposal was delivered by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aiming to give time for peace talks with Iran.
Earlier on Tuesday, Sharif called on Trump in a post on X to extend the deadline Trump set for Iran to reach a deal by two weeks, and also requested Iran "to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture."
UNITED NATIONS -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday failed to adopt a draft resolution that "strongly encourages" states interested in the use of commercial maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz to coordinate efforts of a defensive nature to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation across the Strait of Hormuz, including through the escort of merchant and commercial vessels.
Eleven members of the Security Council voted in favor of the draft resolution, China and Russia voted against it, while Colombia and Pakistan abstained.
The draft resolution was proposed by Bahrain in close coordination with fellow Gulf Cooperation Council members Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as with Jordan.
TEHRAN -- The situation on Iran's Kharg Island remains under control, with no reported damage to infrastructure following Tuesday's US-Israeli attack, Mehr news agency reported, citing sources.
Western media reports said the attacks hit over 50 military targets on the island, which is Iran's oil export hub.
BUDAPEST -- US Vice-President JD Vance said on Tuesday that the United States has largely achieved its military objectives against Iran, while warning that Tehran faces a narrowing window to enter negotiations or risk further economic hardship.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest, Vance said Washington would continue efforts to curb Iran's weapons production capabilities.
Vance confirmed that US forces had struck military targets on Iran's Kharg Island, but stressed that energy infrastructure had not been targeted, in line with a previously set deadline.
"The president believes this war could conclude very quickly," Vance said, outlining two possible paths: Iran could "no longer support terrorism" and integrate into the global economy, or face prolonged economic isolation.
He said the United States has set a deadline for Tehran to respond to negotiations by 8:00 pm US Eastern Time, giving Iran roughly 12 hours to respond, and expressed hope for a "favorable answer" that would allow the resumption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
"Military force remains an option if Iran does not change its behavior, but this is not the preferred path," he added.
On bilateral relations, Vance said the United States seeks strong cooperation with Hungary, particularly in the areas of energy security and independence.
He criticized what he described as pressure from "Eurocrats" in Brussels on Hungary over its policy decisions, adding that Washington maintains multiple channels of cooperation with Budapest.
Vance also questioned Western European approaches to energy policy, noting that some leaders speak of an energy crisis while not supporting Hungary's strategy. He said Hungary has managed to keep energy prices below levels seen in parts of Western Europe.
Hungary has advocated maintaining access to relatively cheap Russian fossil fuels as part of Europe's economic model - a position that differs from broader European Union efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy.
Vance said the United States supports Europe's long-term success and energy independence, adding that Hungary's policy direction could contribute to strengthening energy security across the continent.
Orban said economic relations between Hungary and the United States have strengthened, citing increased trade and recent investment announcements by US companies. He added that cooperation has also expanded into areas such as the space and defense industries.
On energy, Orban warned that Europe is facing what he described as a deepening energy crisis, marked by rising prices and potential shortages of oil and gas. He said US-Hungarian cooperation in the energy sector is crucial for ensuring Hungary's energy security.
Regarding Ukraine, Orban reiterated Hungary's support for peace efforts, saying the country has been living "in the shadow of war" for several years. He stressed that diplomatic solutions should be prioritized and called for progress in ongoing peace initiatives.
Iran has closed all diplomatic and indirect channels of communication with the United States: media.
WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday morning that Iran's " whole civilization will die tonight," the deadline he set for Iran to make a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, marking a possible sharp escalation in the US-Israeli war with Iran.
"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will," Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.
TEHRAN -- Several explosions were heard in Iran's Kharg Island on Tuesday, following multiple attacks by the United States and Israel, according to Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency.
Israeli military says it completed wide wave of attacks across Iran -- media.
China reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East and a return to the negotiation table as the United States-Israel war against Iran intensified on Tuesday, with a broad wave of strikes pummeling infrastructure sites in Tehran, Kharg Island and other parts of Iran ahead of a US deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Addressing a news briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China hopes that all parties can "demonstrate sincerity and quickly end this war that should not have happened in the first place".
Mao noted that the root cause of the conflict is the launch of military attacks against Iran by the US and Israel in violation of international law. The use of force cannot bring peace, and political settlement is the right way forward, she said, adding that the "top priority is to immediately end military operations and return to dialogue and negotiations, in order to fundamentally resolve the issue and restore peace and stability in the Gulf region".
Mao said the situation in the Middle East is continuously worsening, with hostilities escalating and weighing on the global economy and energy security, which have caused deep concerns in the international community.
Since the conflict started, China has maintained "an objective, just and balanced position" and worked consistently to promote a ceasefire and bring an end to the fighting, she said.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held 26 phone calls with parties including Iran, Israel, Russia and Gulf countries, while the Chinese government's special envoy on the Middle East issue has engaged in shuttle diplomacy in the region, she said.
Mao added that China and Pakistan recently put forward a five-point initiative, which embodies the international consensus for a ceasefire and lasting peace in the Middle East.
Reza Amiri Moghadam, Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, said in a social media post on Tuesday that Islamabad's "positive and productive endeavors in goodwill and good office to stop the war was approaching a critical, sensitive stage".
The United Nations has said it is alarmed by the US' threat to target Iran's energy and civilian infrastructure if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all vessels by Tuesday. Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said at a news briefing on Monday that the UN "has been very clear on issues regarding international law", as he urged all parties "to abide by their obligations regarding the conduct of these hostilities".
On Monday, Tehran rejected a proposal for a 45-day ceasefire, drafted by Middle East negotiators including Pakistan, Egypt and Turkiye, saying that it wants a permanent end to attacks against Iran and financial reparation for the damages the country has suffered until now.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that a permanent peace deal should also allow Iran to demand fees for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which would vary depending on the type of vessel, its cargo and prevailing conditions.
US President Donald Trump once again ?exhorted Iran to make a deal by his ?Tuesday deadline, saying on social media that a "whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back ?again" if an agreement is ?not reached.
Amid the looming threat, global stocks wavered on Tuesday, while oil prices edged above $110 per barrel.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on social media that "more than 14 million Iranian people have declared their readiness to sacrifice their lives" to defend their country. "I too have been, am, and will remain ready to give my life for Iran," he added.
According to the Iranian Red Crescent, US-Israeli strikes hit 17 civilian areas across Iran on Tuesday, in addition to military targets. There is no justification for attacking civilians, it said, reiterating that international law states that attacking defenseless civilians is a war crime.
Meanwhile, Gulf countries spent another day repelling attacks in their respective territories. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting at least 18 drones, while authorities in the United Arab Emirates said a telecommunications building was struck by an Iranian ballistic missile, injuring two people, both Pakistani nationals.
Contact the writers at jan@chinadailyapac.com
TEHRAN -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said Tuesday it has targeted an Israeli-owned container ship trying to transfer military equipment to Israel using a port in the United Arab Emirates without passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the IRGC's official news outlet Sepah News.
ISTANBUL -- One attacker was killed and four others, including two police officers and two attackers, were wounded Tuesday during a shootout near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul's Besiktas district, a local official said.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gul told reporters on the scene that the attackers targeted police officers who were taking security measures in the area. He said the police officers were slightly wounded during the shootout.
Meanwhile, Turkish Interior Mustafa Ciftci said on social media platform X that the attackers came to Istanbul from Izmit in a rented vehicle. "One of the individuals was found to have links to an organization that exploits religion; and one of the two terrorists, who are brothers, has a drug-related record," Ciftci said.
Earlier, local broadcaster NTV said the attackers, reportedly wearing camouflage and carrying backpacks, attacked police officers stationed nearby, triggering an exchange of gunfire that ended with security forces "neutralizing" two suspects and critically wounding a third.
Footage aired by NTV showed a large-scale emergency response, with police units and ambulances sealing off the scene in the Levent neighborhood, one of the city's busiest business hubs.
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WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran could be "taken out" in one night and that night "might" be Tuesday evening, the deadline Trump set for Iran to make a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
"The entire country could be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night," Trump told a press conference at the White House.
Trump said that Iran is an "active, willing participant" in the negotiations over the deal, claiming that the talks via intermediaries are "going well."
"I can't talk about ceasefire, but I can tell you that we have an active, willing participant on the other side. They would like to be able to make a deal. I can't say any more than that," Trump said.
"Essentially they have till 8 pm tomorrow night, Eastern Time, but we are dealing with them. I think it's going well," he said.
Trump also said at the press conference that his administration has a plan to strike and destroy bridges and power plants across Iran by midnight Tuesday.
"I mean complete demolition by 12 o'clock. And it will happen over a period of four hours if we wanted to. We don't want that to happen," Trump claimed.
Earlier on Monday, the president said that the 8 p.m. Eastern Time Tuesday deadline he has set for Iran is final.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at the press conference that US forces will launch the largest strikes on Iran since the start of the war on Feb. 28.
"Per the president's direction, today will be the largest volume of strikes since Day One of this operation. Tomorrow, even more than today. And then Iran has a choice," Hegseth told reporters.
WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said Monday that the US military had used as many as 155 warplanes to rescue the second airman in Iran and was forced to destroy some cargo planes that got stuck.
The pilot was injured "quite badly," Trump said at a press conference at the White House.
"We blew up the old planes," Trump said while focusing on the details of the rescue. He said the planes contained communications equipment and anti-missile technology.
The search-and-rescue mission was then conducted by "faster, lighter planes," Trump said.
"Hundreds of people could have been killed," Trump said. "So we had people that were within the military that said this is not wise, and I understood that. But I decided to do it."
US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine told reporters that the US A-10 Warthog downed on Friday was conducting a "sandy" mission -- positioning itself between the rescue force and enemy fire.
The aircraft was hit multiple times by Iranian fire, but the pilot managed to fly it out of Iran before ejecting over friendly territory.
The plane had only one job: "Get to the survivor, bring the rescue force forward, and put themselves between that survivor on the ground and the enemy," said Caine.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the agency played a key role during the search and rescue efforts by using "human assets and exquisite technologies" to locate the airman and determine he was alone and alive on Saturday morning.
Ratcliffe described the search and rescue as a "daunting challenge" that is "comparable to hunting for a single grain of sand in the middle of a desert."
"This was also a race against the clock, as it was critical that we locate the downed aviator as quickly as possible, while at the same time keeping our enemies misdirected," he told reporters.
Ratcliffe confirmed that the CIA "executed a deception campaign" against Iran during the rescue so that the missing pilot, when "concealed in a mountain crevice," was "invisible to the enemy, but not to the CIA."
Trump said that an Iranian shoulder-fired missile downed the US Air Force F-15E jet on Friday. But neither the president nor his top officials elaborated on the type of munition and how the fighter jet was shot down.
Iran continued to maintain its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, snubbing United States President Donald Trump's expletive-laced ultimatum to bomb Iranian power plants and bridges unless the key waterway was opened to all vessels by Tuesday.
As the US and Israel carried out a wave of attacks on Iran on Monday, the latter responded with missile and drone strikes on Israel and its Gulf neighbors. The combined toll as of press time was more than 40.
In a social media post on Sunday, Trump said: "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!" He vowed that Iranians would be "living in Hell" if the Strait of Hormuz wasn't opened by Tuesday.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, responded via social media, calling Trump's threats reckless. "You won't gain anything through war crimes," he wrote.
As Tehran endured heavy bombardment, with strikes hitting its eastern, southern and western districts, Iranian state media reported at least 34 deaths on Monday, including six children. The head of intelligence for Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Major General Majid Khademi, is believed to be among the deceased.
Israeli attacks targeted facilities at Iran's South Pars natural gas field, while the most high-profile civilian infrastructure hit was Sharif University of Technology, one of the largest engineering schools in Iran.
Meanwhile, Iranian missiles struck a residential building in Haifa, a city in northwestern Israel, killing at least four people. Israel's military has warned the public of another missile barrage coming from Iran.
In the Gulf region, Iranian missiles targeted power, desalination and oil facilities in Kuwait, and an oil installation in Bahrain. In the United Arab Emirates, a drone strike damaged a telecommunications company building in Fujairah, but no injuries were reported. Falling debris from an intercepted attack wounded one person in an industrial area in Abu Dhabi.
Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, rose to $109 in early Monday spot trading, which was about 50 percent higher than prewar levels.
On Sunday, the OPEC+ alliance, which comprises members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other nations including Russia, agreed to a modest output increase of 206,000 barrels per day starting in May.
Peace proposal
In a concerted effort to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East, Egyptian, Pakistani and Turkish mediators have sent Iran and the US a draft proposal that calls for a 45-day ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as a possible way to end the war, The Associated Press reported, quoting two Middle East officials.
Under the plan, a ceasefire would take effect immediately to reopen the strait, while a broader settlement would have to be finalized in 15 to 20 days. Tentatively called the "Islamabad Accord", the deal would include a regional framework for the strait, with final talks in Pakistan.
Iran and the US have not formally responded to the proposal, which was sent late on Sunday night to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff. However, a senior Iranian official said the key waterway will not be opened in exchange for a "temporary truce", as Tehran believes Washington is "not ready" for lasting peace.
Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said on Sunday that any settlement must guarantee unimpeded access through the Strait of Hormuz, adding that a deal failing to curb Iran's nuclear program, missiles and drones would pave the way for "a more dangerous, more volatile Middle East".
On the other hand, Iran has consistently demanded that the conditions for ending the war should include safeguards against future attacks on Iran, the payment of war reparations to the country, and a recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
Monday's escalation of violence follows the dramatic rescue of two crew members of an F-15E fighter jet shot down over Iran on Friday.
After completing their rescue mission, US forces reportedly destroyed two C-130 cargo planes and at least two MH-6 Little Bird helicopters as the aircraft became stuck. Iran claimed it had shot these aircraft down, with state media broadcasting footage of charred wreckage.
JERUSALEM -- The Israeli military said on Monday it killed the chief of the special operations unit of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Quds Force.
Asghar Bagheri, who served as the commander of the undercover unit since 2019, was killed in an airstrike in Tehran on Sunday, the military said in a statement.
"Under his command, the unit advanced operations targeting IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers on the Syrian-Israel border ... and advanced the transfer of weapons from Iran into the State of Israel," it said.
His assassination joins dozens of other senior Iranian commanders and officials killed by Israel since the beginning of its joint attack with the United States late in February, including Iran's previous Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which sparked a regional conflict in the Middle East.
