Pakistan Says It Remains Engaged with US, Iran on Talks to End Conflict

Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, September 2, 2026. (Reuters)
Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, September 2, 2026. (Reuters)
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Pakistan Says It Remains Engaged with US, Iran on Talks to End Conflict

Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, September 2, 2026. (Reuters)
Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, September 2, 2026. (Reuters)

Pakistan is engaged with the US and Iran on talks to end their conflict ‌and ‌is positive that ‌the ⁠countries "will return to ⁠the table for dialogue", Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir ⁠Andrabi said at ‌a ‌regular media briefing ‌on Wednesday.

Pakistan's ‌Chief of Defense Forces Asim Munir's ‌visit to Tehran last month created "considerable ⁠momentum" ⁠on the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, he said.

Iran struck US interests around the Middle East on Wednesday, vowing "severe" consequences for renewed American attacks on the country.

The latest fighting over the Strait of Hormuz once again expanded to US military bases in the region and drew Gulf countries deeper into the six-month conflict.

US President Donald Trump had warned earlier of "much harder and higher" attacks if Iran retaliated to the US strikes which Iranian state media said had killed 11 people in the country's south and southwest.

The latest round of conflict began when Washington hit Iranian targets on Sunday, the first known strikes in several weeks, after which Tehran's forces targeted US troops in Jordan, and projectiles struck two oil tankers in unclaimed attacks.

More US strikes came on Tuesday, with Iranian state television reporting explosions in the country's south along the Hormuz strait and on an island in the Gulf, and that US forces hit an airport in the southern province of Kerman.

After six months of war, the foes remain at an impasse, with Iran keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed and the United States persisting with a counter-blockade of Iranian ports.

The Middle East war began in late February with US-Israeli attacks on Iran that killed its supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

A fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran collapsed after attacks on commercial ships in the Hormuz strait, through which one-fifth of world oil supplies flowed before the war.



Sailor Killed in Gulf as Iran Says Tankers on Fire

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, November 3, 2026. (Reuters)
Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, November 3, 2026. (Reuters)
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Sailor Killed in Gulf as Iran Says Tankers on Fire

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, November 3, 2026. (Reuters)
Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, November 3, 2026. (Reuters)

A seafarer on a Greek-owned oil tanker was killed in an apparent missile attack in the Gulf, its owner said Friday, after Tehran said ships were on fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Velos Sapphire was sailing to Bahrain empty of cargo when the attack happened on Thursday, Velos Tankers said in a statement carried by the Greek news agency ANA.

The Athens-based company said the explosion was likely caused by an unidentified projectile that struck the vessel's port quarter, sparking a fire.

On Thursday, Iranian media reported that five oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement carried by state media Friday, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said two more oil tankers were on fire in the strategic gateway to the energy-rich Gulf.

British maritime agency UKMTO said on Friday that the master of a tanker transiting the strait the previous day had reported an explosion "at the waterline, port side" off Oman.

"The crew are safe... The tanker is still under its own power and is continuing on its voyage," it added.

Since the outbreak of the Middle East war on February 28, Tehran has sought to limit traffic through the waterway, which normally carries about one-fifth of global oil consumption.

The United States has in response imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and escorted tankers through the strait.


Rubio Denies Plans to Leave Post for White House Bid

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony with Paraguay's Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano on strategic civil nuclear cooperation, at the State Department in Washington, DC, US, August 4, 2026. (Reuters)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony with Paraguay's Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano on strategic civil nuclear cooperation, at the State Department in Washington, DC, US, August 4, 2026. (Reuters)
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Rubio Denies Plans to Leave Post for White House Bid

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony with Paraguay's Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano on strategic civil nuclear cooperation, at the State Department in Washington, DC, US, August 4, 2026. (Reuters)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony with Paraguay's Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano on strategic civil nuclear cooperation, at the State Department in Washington, DC, US, August 4, 2026. (Reuters)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed reports Thursday that he was planning to leave the Trump administration as he weighs his next moves after Republicans' losses in midterm elections, according to The New York Times.

It has "always been my plan" to work for President Donald Trump until the end of his term, Rubio told The Times in an interview.

Rubio, who also serves as Trump's national security adviser, is widely considered a potential successor to Trump in the 2028 presidential race.

Just days before Tuesday's midterm elections, he made an unusual appearance alongside the US leader on the campaign trail, briefly stepping up on the podium to address a cheering crowd at a rally.

Rubio declined to answer questions about his political future on Thursday, however, saying: "I literally will not talk about 2028 anymore."

On reports that he was considering an exit from the Trump administration, he told The New York Times: "I don't know where these things come from, to be honest with you."

Earlier Thursday, Bloomberg News reported that Rubio was weighing whether to leave the administration.

The report added that Rubio spoke to White House officials about stepping down, and was asked to stay.

But the State Department has hit back sharply against reports that Rubio might leave.

Dylan Johnson, Assistant Secretary of State for global public affairs, called the Bloomberg article "totally made up."

He also called a report by news outlet The Independent, which said Rubio was planning to launch a bid for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, "completely baseless fake news."

Rubio has previously said that he would support Vice President JD Vance if he ran for president.

Vance is also widely considered a possible 2028 candidate.


Trump Says to ‘Soon’ Take Decision on Whether to Resume Iran War

A hat reading "VETO" sits on the Resolute Desk as US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, DC, on November 5, 2026. (AFP)
A hat reading "VETO" sits on the Resolute Desk as US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, DC, on November 5, 2026. (AFP)
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Trump Says to ‘Soon’ Take Decision on Whether to Resume Iran War

A hat reading "VETO" sits on the Resolute Desk as US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, DC, on November 5, 2026. (AFP)
A hat reading "VETO" sits on the Resolute Desk as US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, DC, on November 5, 2026. (AFP)

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would decide “soon” on whether to resume the war on Iran following a meeting with his top national security advisers.

"Now we will make a decision," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

"Do we want to go further" with strikes to ensure Iran's nuclear program is over and that "it will never happen again?" he added.

"I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible, but maybe I will have to. You'll know soon enough."

Trump held meetings at the White House on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the resumption of military operations, according to senior officials who spoke to US media.

While the US Central Command continues its military preparations, Qatari mediators are advancing a draft agreement aimed at fostering confidence between Washington and Tehran.

The president, at least for now, is considering three options: launch new strikes, continue to strangle Iran's regime economically, or cut a deal that includes significant concessions to the Iranians, reported Axios.

Trump on Thursday said Iran could not do ‌anything regarding ‌its nuclear program ‌without ⁠US approval.

"They're not ⁠doing anything without our approval," ⁠Trump told reporters ‌in ‌the Oval ‌Office ‌in response to a question regarding a ‌set of proposals made ⁠to ⁠Iran by mediators about the future of its nuclear program.