Pakistani delegation in Tehran to continue talks

Iranian state media said talks between the Iranian government and the visiting Pakistani delegation would continue on Thursday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi took part in a preliminary meeting with Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir in Tehran on Wednesday.

Munir is seen as one of the most influential mediators between the United States and Iran.

Pakistan is expected to mediate a second round of talks between the United States and Iran after they failed to reach a peace deal last weekend.

The White House said on Wednesday that any further talks would probably take place in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad.

The ceasefire between the US and Iran, which came into effect on April 8, is due to expire next Wednesday.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said that Iran will “definitely” participate in the 2026 World Cup, despite the war in Iran.

“Iran is definitely coming. We hope the situation will be peaceful by then, which will definitely help,” Infantino told US business news channel CNBC.

“But Iran have to come, they represent their people, they deserve, the players want to play,” he said of the team’s upcoming matches in the United States in June.

The World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, begins on June 11.

There have been conflicting comments from the Iranian government and football officials regarding the team’s participation.

US President Donald Trump discouraged the Iranian team from participating in the tournament, citing security concerns.

Iran is scheduled to play two group-stage games in Inglewood, California, and one game in Seattle. It has called for its games to be moved to Mexico, which has been rejected by FIFA.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel is in talks with Lebanon, he said in a video address on Wednesday evening.

It has two central goals, he said: disarming the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group and achieving lasting peace.

At the same time, Israeli forces will continue to infiltrate into southern Lebanon, he said.

According to Netanyahu, the current fighting is centered in the strategic southern Lebanon city of Bint Jbeil.

He said he has instructed the army to continue expanding the security zone in southern Lebanon and expand it eastward.

Israel’s Security Council meeting has ended without a decision on a possible ceasefire in Lebanon.

That’s according to Israel’s Channel 12, which cites Israeli officials and other Israeli media.

The meeting was called on Wednesday as Israel continues to carry out deadly attacks on Lebanon in search of Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.