Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

It's currently the middle of the night in Islamabad, where Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived just a few hours ago.

The Pakistani capital has been preparing to host a second round of peace talks between the US and Iran, with road closures in place for the past six days.

The White House said earlier this evening that it was sending US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to the city on Sunday because the Iranians wanted to talk "in person".

However, Iranian state media is reporting that there are no negotiations with the US planned for Abbas Araghchi's visit. He will instead focus on reviewing "bilateral matters" between Iran and Pakistan, according to the Iranian embassy.

The open question now is how much progress the countries can make in Pakistan. Butthe fact that talks are continuing shows both the US and Iran are interested in a deal, writes our Washington correspondent.

We're pausing our live coverage, but you can read more in our main news story.

Image source, Getty Images

Gas prices in the US reached an average of $4.05 (£3.33) on Friday, price monitor website AAA says, as the war in Iran continues to affect oil and gas prices globally.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump said people can expect to pay more for gas "for a little while".

He added: "You know they get for that? Iran without a nuclear weapon that's going to try and blow up one of our cities, or blow up the entire Middle East."

Before the conflict began, average gas prices were recorded by the AAA as below $3 (£2.22). The AAA said on Thursday that prices are the highest they’ve been during this time of year since 2022.

Iran's state broadcaster IRIB reported earlier this evening that Islamabad can act as a "bridge" to "convey Iran's consideration for ending the conflict".

Now, in a statement on X confirming that report, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson says "no meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US", and Iran's observations will instead be "conveyed to Pakistan".

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

The US State Department says it is taking "decisive action to disrupt Iran’s illicit oil trade".

This includes sanctions imposed today by the Department of the Treasury on a "major, independent Chinese refinery and nearly 40 other targets" which it says serve as "critical lifelines for Iran's oil exports".

The department adds that these sanctions cut revenue streams that fund the Iranian regime's "destabilising activities across the Middle East".

"The United States will intensify economic pressure on Iran and the international network that sustains its illicit energy trade as a part of Economic Fury", it says in a statement.

The conflict in Iran will continue to disrupt energy markets beyond the current short-term impacts, the International Energy Agency says in a new report, external, published today.

“Beyond the immediate disruption,” the IEA says, “the crisis is expected to have implications for the medium-term outlook.”

This due to shipping blockades at the Strait of Hormuz creating “unprecedented uncertainty” and damage to liquefied natural gas infrastructure in Qatar affecting supply.

Before the outbreak of the conflict the IEA had expected a wave of new LNG supply, which has now been pushed back.

Switzerland is gradually reopening its embassy in Tehran, according to its foreign ministry.

The embassy plays an important role in representing US interests in Iran as a protecting power.

The US has had no independent diplomatic representation in Iran since the 1979 revolution when its embassy was seized and the staff taken hostage.

Switzerland's foreign ministry says the decision was taken in consultation with Iran and the US, and it is prepared to provide its offices to support "all diplomatic initiatives that contribute to de-escalation and a lasting peace".

Gary O'Donoghue
Chief North America correspondent

The Trump administration is clearly approaching this round of talks with caution - not sending Vice-President JD Vance as they did two weeks ago and stressing, as the press secretary put it, to “hear the Iranians out”.

It follows the president’s decision earlier this week to extend the ceasefire indefinitely, at the request of Pakistan, so that Tehran could come up with what was described as a unified proposal.

Since then the stand-off over the Strait of Hormuz has worsened, with both sides regarding the others actions as a breach.

But the strait is not the only point of contention - Washington and Tehran are still at loggerheads over Iran’s nuclear capabilities and its support for proxies in the region.

The White House says Vance will be on standby to travel to Islamabad if there’s progress - but there’s no detail at this stage of what Iran may be prepared to offer.

Image source, Reuters

A couple of hours ago we heard from the White House that US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be heading to Islamabad, Pakistan on Saturday for further discussions on the conflict with Iran.

So who are they and why are they involved?

Jared Kushner

Kushner is US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, married to his daughter Ivanka Trump.

He was a senior adviser to Trump during his first term, and though he no longer has that title, he has been involved in key international issues, including the negotiations between Israel and Hamas last year.

Steve Witkoff

Witkoff is a real estate developer and friend of Trump who was appointed as special envoy to the Middle East at the start of Trump's second term.

He has been the administration's go-to international negotiator and trouble shooter who has played a key role in talks concerning both the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine conflicts.

Earlier on Friday, Russia praised Pakistan's mediating role in the Iran conflict with the United States in a call between the foreign ministers of the two countries.

Sergei Lavrov and Ishaq Dar discussed efforts to find an agreement between Tehran and Washington, according to an account of the phone conversation reported by Reuters.

Lavrov extended Moscow's readiness to support efforts towards mediation, the report says.

The conversation comes as Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives in Islamabad for talks with Pakistan - he's also due to travel to the Russian capital, Moscow, later in his trip.

US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to fly to Islamabad on Saturday.

There are currently no confirmed plans for the two sides to meet.

Image source, Getty Images

Iran's state broadcaster IRIB writes on Telegram that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi does not plan to meet with the US in Pakistan.

Islamabad can act as a "bridge" to "convey Iran's consideration for ending the conflict", it says.

Meanwhile, the White House said earlier that it was sending envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad because the Iranians wanted to talk "in person".

Araghchi arrived in Pakistan earlier this evening - the Iranian embassy in Pakistan says he plans to "review bilateral matters" between Iran and Pakistan.

Citing a senior Pakistani government official, ABC News is reporting that US and Iranian delegations will have separate meetings with Pakistani officials this weekend.

It adds that if they go well, the US and Iranian officials will then meet directly on Sunday.

Morgan Gisholt Minard
BBC News, Washington

While US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner head to Islamabad this weekend, President Trump and Vice-President JD Vance are staying in the US.

I’m part of the White House press pack this weekend - we’re travelling with President Trump on a 24-hour trip down to Florida where he’ll attend a Republican conference event tonight, and a cryptocurrency event on Saturday afternoon.

We’ve just squeezed into several sprinter vans and are currently driving in the presidential motorcade from the White House to Joint Base Andrews.

Typically he would depart via Marine One on the picturesque South Lawn of the White House - but today he’s being ferried to Air Force One by limousine because of preparations on the South Lawn for King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit to Washington next week.

As we departed we saw Vice-President JD Vance standing outside between the White House and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, a cell phone pressed to his ear.

Earlier, the White House press secretary said he is on "standby", and the US is willing to dispatch him to Pakistan if it is deemed a good use of his time.

Image source, Reuters

The US Treasury has imposed new Iran-related sanctions today.

This includes a general license for the winding down of deals involving a Chinese petrochemicals company - Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co.

Around 40 other entities and tankers have also been added to the sanctions list, according to a document published on the Treasury website.

Writing on X, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent adds that the US will "target all financial lifelines tied to the [Iranian] regime".

As part of this, the Treasury is also freezing $344 million in cryptocurrency, he says.

Image source, Getty Images

We can bring you more now from US President Donald Trump's comments to Reuters news agency.

He said during the phone call that Iran is "making an offer and we'll have to see", but he didn't yet know what the offer was.

When asked who the US was negotiating with, he didn't give specifics but said, as we previously reported, they're "dealing with the people that are in charge now".

He also said that when King Charles visits the US next week, Trump will discuss Iran with him.

Image source, EPA

The Iranian embassy in Pakistan has now confirmed reports that the Iranian delegation has arrived in Islamabad.

Sharing an image on X, it says Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will "review bilateral matters" and discuss regional developments.

US President Donald Trump says US officials are negotiating "with the people who are in charge now" in Iran.

Speaking directly to Reuters news agency, the president says Iran wants to talk and see if they can make a deal, and plans to make an offer aimed at resolving US demands.

Citing two Pakistan government sources, the Reuters news agency says an Iranian delegation has arrived in Islamabad.

Iran's state-run news agency IRNA and the semi-official Tasnim news agency also report Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has landed in the Pakistani capital.

The Iranian government earlier confirmed that Araghchi was heading to the country as part of a diplomatic tour to Pakistan, Oman and Russia.

The open question now is how much progress the countries can make in Pakistanpublished at 19:42 BST 24 April

19:42 BST 24 April

Daniel Bush
Washington correspondent

President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth have insisted this week that the US isn’t feeling pressure to end the war with Iran.

But news that the US-Iran talks are continuing this weekend underscores yet again the divide between the administration’s public pronouncements and behind-the-scenes push by the White House to find a way to wind down the war.

The latest sign came Friday when the White House said that special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are heading back to Islamabad to continue peace talks with Iran.

The news suggests both sides are seeking a path forward, despite the continued mixed messages from Trump and aggressive posturing from Tehran.

The open question now is how much progress the countries can make in Pakistan. Vice President JD Vance led the US delegation in the first round of talks but so far is not confirmed to be going to the negotiations this weekend. The White House said Vance was on “stand by” to go if needed.

Vance’s absence - if he doesn’t go - might mean the countries don’t expect a major breakthrough. But the fact that the talks are continuing shows both the US and Iran are interested in a deal.

Image source, EPA

There's been speculation this week surrounding whether a second round of peace talks between Iran and the US will go ahead in Islamabad.

Pakistan, which is acting as a mediator, has seen road closures in place for six days, as it prepares to host the peace talks. Here's a reminder of how things have unfolded so far:

11 April: Senior US and Iranian officials meet in Pakistan for talks which last over 21 hours but end without agreement, despite both sides reporting progress.

19 April: US President Donald Trump says his representatives will return to Pakistan for talks. However, this does not happen, as Iran says it's not yet decided whether to take part.

21 April: Trump agrees to extend the ceasefire with Iran for an unspecified time so negotiations can continue.

24 April: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will head to Islamabad on Saturday for further talks with Iran.

The Iranian government confirms Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is travelling to Islamabad as part of a wider regional trip, but does not mention whether this is for further peace talks with the US.

Iranian state media says there are no negotiations with the US on the agenda.

Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency says that there are currently no negotiations with the US on the agenda for the Iranian foreign minister's trip to the Pakistani capital.

It says Abbas Araghchi's visit to the Islamabad is to discuss Iran's considerations regarding the end of the war with Pakistani officials.

The Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reports that some international flights from Iran's Imam Khomeini Airport will resume from tomorrow.

Citing an airport announcement, it says these will include flights to Istanbul and Muscat.

Muscat is one of the destinations that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will visit during his upcoming diplomatic tour, which will start in Pakistan and also go to Russia and Oman.

Referencing the trip in a social media post earlier, Araghchi said: "Our neighbors are our priority".

Araghchi made no reference to a US presence at talks in Pakistan in his post, but US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has since said envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will head to Islamabad on Saturday.