As Pakistan celebrates its success in helping negotiate a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, its leaders are preparing to host the peace talks.

A two-day holiday was declared in the country’s capital of Islamabad ahead of the talks, which are due to begin on Saturday.

Whether or not they will actually go ahead has yet to be confirmed, but the city has readied itself all the same. The streets have become quieter as about 10,000 police officers and security forces are deployed.

The stakes for the world are high – countries across the globe are keen to see an end to the fighting and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery where about 20% of the global oil supply flowed through before the war.

But they are also high for Pakistan in other ways.

The South Asian nation will face a potential « nightmare scenario » if negotiations collapse, and it gets dragged into fighting with its neighbour Iran, says Abdul Basit, a South Asia expert at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. This could happen as Pakistan signed a mutual defence pact with Saudi Arabia last year – and Islamabad has since « made it clear that it will honour its commitment given to the Saudis », says Basit.

This could result in « three borders of Pakistan [becoming] hot », Basit explains, referring to Pakistan’s existing tensions with its other neighbours Afghanistan and India. « And Pakistan is fighting two full-fledged insurgencies in two of the four provinces. Pakistan cannot afford that. »

Yet pride and excitement is taking over Pakistani social media, with different memes going viral.

« It is a victory in the sense that no other country in the world was able to broker the ceasefire and we were on the verge of a possible catastrophe. Pakistan averted that, » says Basit.

The success is very much needed for a country that has endured years of political unrest, a fragile economy on the brink of a debt default only two years ago, and intense rivalry with India.

So how did Pakistan pull off this feat?

Trump favourite

Pakistan is in a unique position as it is trusted by the US, Iran and the Gulf countries.

The reconciliation process is led by Pakistan’s military chief Asim Munir, whom US President Donald Trump calls his « favourite field marshal », according to Mushahid Hussain Syed, a senator belonging to the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League.

Munir is arguably the most powerful man in Pakistan, a country where the army has long played a predominant role in politics.

Soon after the start of Trump’s second term, Munir started building rapport with the US president and gave him « two early wins », says Maleeha Lodhi, a former Pakistan ambassador to the US and UN.

The field marshal, acting on CIA intelligence, handed over the alleged mastermind behind the 2021 Kabul airport bombing when Americans were evacuating from Afghanistan. The suicide attack killed at least 170 Afghans and 13 US service members.

« Trump was so grateful that he mentioned this in his first address to the Congress, » Lodhi says.

The second win, Lodhi says, was « the way Pakistan conveyed to him that he had played a pivotal role in preventing a wider war with India ». Pakistan is one of the few countries that have nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize – which he has long coveted.

« Remember that Trump wasn’t really getting much joy from the tariff war that he was imposing practically on every country in the world. So, he really needed what he got from Pakistan. »

Pakistan has also promised access to its critical minerals, which the US sees as a national-security interest. In September 2025, Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organisation – the country’s major miner of critical minerals, which operates under the military – signed a $500m investment deal with a US company. The ceremony took place at the Prime Minister House, with Munir in attendance.

Then, in January, Pakistan signed an agreement with an affiliate of World Liberty Financials, the cryptocurrency venture co-founded by Trump and his family, which will potentially integrate its stablecoin into the country’s digital-payment system. It has bolstered the country’s ties with Trump’s circle too.

‘Principled stance’

However, these close ties did not stop Pakistan officially condemning the first US-Israeli attacks in Iran. But when Iran bombed the oil fields of Saudi Arabia, a military ally, Pakistan also issued a strongly worded statement against Iran.

On 7 April, Pakistan abstained from a UN Security Council resolution urging states to coordinate efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Syed calls it « one-sided » as the solution does not mention that the US and Israel attacked first.

This « principled stance » and « balanced approach » has helped to enhance the trust of Iran and other Gulf countries, says Syed.

It is with these countries that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has played a crucial role in the negotiations, former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Aizaz Chaudhry says.

Over the past five weeks, Sharif and his deputy, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, spoke with more than a dozen world leaders and senior officials in Washington, Moscow, Beijing, key European capitals, Turkey, Egypt and GCC states such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

On the day when the ceasefire was announced, Sharif said he had a « warm and substantive conversation » with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, who « reaffirmed Iran’s participation in the upcoming negotiations and expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s efforts ».

It seems Sharif has been able to leverage Pakistan’s long-standing relationship with Iran on this occasion. The two countries share a 920km border with Iran and have been cooperating for decades as a result, former Pakistan ambassador to Iran Asif Durrani says.

They also share other concerns: militants and the « unstable » Afghanistan.

« For the past five decades, we both have been facing instability in our countries in the form of refugees, » Durrani says.

Also not to be underestimated is the role religion has played in fostering trust and connection. While Pakistan is a Sunni-majority country, it has one of the world’s largest Shia populations. Every year, thousands of Pakistanis travel to Iran, the biggest Shia country, on pilgrimage.

But as Saturday ticks closer, it is unclear if Pakistan’s efforts will result in the promised peace talks. The ceasefire is under growing strain, and whether the two sides will actually turn up is still in question.

« The next phase – reaching a comprehensive agreement – is difficult, and Pakistan should continue to facilitate the process, » Chaudhry says.

Israel « is already trying to undermine the ceasefire by undertaking this fierce assault on Lebanon », Lodhi says. Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed more than 300 people in Lebanon, and Israel says the Iran ceasefire does not include Lebanon.

« There is this concern in Pakistan for sure amongst officials. And on that front, the responsibility and the onus rests on Trump to restrain Israel, » she adds.

Pakistan has already « played its part » to foster peace, Durrani says. « As a broker, mediator or facilitator, your job is to take the horse to water. You can’t make it drink. It is up to the parties to make use of that opportunity which is provided by Pakistan. »

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L’article Debate. The high-stakes diplomacy that led to Pakistan hosting US-Iran peace talks est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.

President Donald Trump has been speaking to a number of different US media outlets after threatening Iran’s infrastructure if the country doesn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Here’s what we’ve heard.

He told Axios that the US is « in deep negotiations » with Iran to make a deal. He says « there is a good chance, but if they don’t make a deal, I am blowing up everything over there ».

He similarly told Fox News there is a “good chance” a deal will be reached tomorrow, but he is considering “blowing everything up and taking over the oil” if a deal to end the war is not reached quickly – as we reported earlier

Trump told the Wall Street Journal that if Iran want to keep the strait closed « they’re going to lose every power plant and every other plant they have in the whole country »

As we’ve been reporting, Donald Trump has issued an expletive-laden threat that Iran’s infrastructure will be hit on Tuesday if the Strait of Hormuz is not opened.

He had previously issued a deadline of 6 April for Iran to make a deal. In a new post on his Truth Social platform, Trump writes: « Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time! »

That’s 03:30 Tehran time on Wednesday (01:00 BST).

It’s not clear what Trump’s social media post is referring to. The BBC has asked the White House to clarify.

Four people have been injured in Haifa, northern Israel, after a rocket strike, the country’s emergency service Magen David Adom says.

It says this includes « an approximately 82-year-old man in serious condition who was injured by a heavy object, and 3 casualties in mild condition with shrapnel and blast injuries ».

The emergency service has shared these pictures of the scene.

Military trains ‘endlessly’ for rescue missions, former US commander says

Gen Frank McKenzie, a retired former commander of US Central Command, tells CBS Face the Nation that the rescue of the airman in Iran is something the US military trains “endlessly” for.

“Every time we send air crew over enemy territory, we have detailed elaborate plans to go get them,” he says.

McKenzie says this rescue operation left the airman in a “position where they can hide until you can get to them, all that seemed to work out very well”.

The retired general says “we did in fact lose a couple of aircraft in that mission”, but it’s a loss you take « any day » in such a situation.

He says it is a “hard lesson” for Iran that it was “not able to find the missing air crewman” before the US rescuers.

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US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran has asked for a ceasefire, saying he will consider it when Strait of Hormuz is open.

Iranian officials have rejected those claims, saying no such request was made.

Qatar’s Defence Ministry says missiles launched from Iran hit oil tanker in the country’s territorial waters.

Kuwait says an Iranian attack has sparked a “large fire” at the fuel tanks at its international airport.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi tells Al Jazeera he has no faith in talks with the US, and says that while he has had messages from Washington, no negotiations are under way.

Israeli medics say 14 wounded in Iranian missile attack

Israel’s emergency services say the wounded included an 11-year-old girl in a missile strike near Tel Aviv that the military blamed on Iran.

In the central city of Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, the Magen David Adom emergency service said it had treated and evacuated to hospital 14 wounded people, adding that the girl is in critical condition with shrapnel injuries.

It said a 13-year-old boy and a 36-year-old woman, also with shrapnel injuries, were in moderate condition, while a further 11 casualties were in mild condition.

Hezbollah says it downed Israeli drone, attacked warplane

Hezbollah has been announcing a flurry of attacks on Israeli army personnel and positions today. In recent hours, it said, its fighters attacked a newly established Israeli artillery emplacement in the town of Rabaa Thalathin with missiles.

It added that its fighters shot down an Israeli enemy drone with a surface-to-air missile in the skies over the town of Ainata, and “confronted” an Israeli warplane in the skies over the town of Bflay.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army on any of these claims.

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More on this incident in southern Israel now, as the national fire and rescue service instructs workers in and around the blaze to shelter in a safe space.

The service says the fire in Neot Hovav industrial zone has been declared « a hazardous materials incident », urging workers to evacuate « exposed » areas and instead shelter in « protected structures ».

According to Reuters news agency, ADAMA, a global crop protection company, has released a statement confirming its Makhteshim plant was the site that was hit – either by an Iranian missile or debris from an intercepted missile.

ADAMA – part of Chinese-owned Syngenta Group – says the extent of any damage to the plant is not immediately known, reports Reuters.

Death toll continues to climb in Lebanon during Israeli invasion

Officials in Lebanon say more than 1,200 people have been killed over the past four weeks.

The toll includes 124 children with more than 3,500 people wounded, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

On Saturday and Sunday alone, 49 people were killed including 10 rescue workers and three journalists.

Fears continue to rise of more deaths after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is “determined to fundamentally change the situation in the north”.

Hezbollah “still has residual capability to fire rockets at us”, he said.

Iran has ‘appetite for negotiations’ but also apprehension

Iran is eager to have talks and some sort of negotiations but on its own terms, says Mehran Kamrava, director of the Iranian studies unit at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies.

“There is appetite, but there is also apprehension,” he told Al Jazeera, adding that Tehran is concerned that in a few months, the Americans, or more likely the Israelis, would attack again.

In terms of guarantees, “what the Iranians want to do in addition to some sort of internationally sanctioned document is they want to make sure that the pain that they inflict on the United States and on America’s regional allies are deep enough, that they are painful enough that the Americans and the Israelis will think twice next time when they want to attack Iran.”

Over the past several weeks, the Iranians along with the US and Israel have been willing to cross successive red lines.

They have attacked oil and energy installations and strikes in the Middle East have become increasingly accurate, Kamrava said. They have also caused “major damage in military bases in Saudi Arabia, so that is another source of leverage”, he added.

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Israel has attacked two nuclear facilities and two major steel plants, actions for which Iran’s FM Araghchi says it will carry out “heavy” retaliation.

The attacks came despite US President Donald Trump’s promise to further delay attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure by 10 days – until April 6 – as he continues to claim talks with Iran on a peace deal are going “very well”.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirms Islamabad is relaying messages between US and Iranian officials as part of mediation efforts to end the war, with Turkiye and Egypt also lending support.

Iran’s Deputy Health Minister Ali Jafarian tells Al Jazeera at least 1,937 people have been killed in US-Israeli attacks on his country.

Israel has issued displacement orders for all residents of Lebanon living south of the Zahrani River – located some 50km (31 miles) from the border with Israel – as Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports more than 1,100 people killed in Israeli attacks since March 2.

Iran’s Ghalibaf says ‘fake news’ no longer altering energy markets

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf says the US’s spamming of “fake news” to alter the energy markets and push prices down had only made it “numb”.

“Keep going, nobody’s buying it anymore. The real prices will show up anyway. Powerful? Maybe. But Smart? Not even close. Burned that fake news card way too early,” Ghalibaf wrote on X.

US stocks closed out their worst week since the war began, with the S&P 500 falling 1.6 percent.

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Israeli analysts describe confusion after US President Trump unexpectedly shifts from threatened strikes on Iran to talks.

Israeli analysts have described a sense of disappointment and confusion in the country after United States President Donald Trump’s claim that negotiations with Iran to wind down the war would continue.

Trump’s comments come despite his threats to launch a wave of strikes against Iran’s energy infrastructure, and denials from Iran that any negotiations are taking place.

Throughout the war, Israeli leaders have framed themselves as being at the forefront of the fight against Iran, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu frequently boasting of having convinced the US to join what he has repeatedly framed as an existential threat posed to Israel by Iran.

In a video statement released on Monday after Trump’s comments, Netanyahu said that the US president believed that it was possible to leverage “the mighty achievements obtained by [the Israeli military] and the US military to realise the goals of the war in an agreement … that will safeguard our vital interests”.

“In parallel, we continue to attack, both in Iran and Lebanon,” the prime minister added. “We are methodically dismantling the missile programme and the nuclear programme, and continue to hit Hezbollah hard.”

Despite that framing, many in Israel are acutely aware that the war was presented to the Israeli people at the outset as one that would likely overthrow the Iranian government and end the threat from the country. With the Islamic Republic still standing and deadly Iranian attacks hitting Israel in the last few days, talk of a negotiated end to the conflict is unsettling to many.

Former Israeli ambassador Alon Pinkas told Al Jazeera that, if Trump has pushed for negotiations over Netanyahu’s objections, it may be a sign that the US president is aware that “Netanyahu may have duped [Trump] on how quick and resounding a victory would be, and how viable regime change is”.

Political scientist Ori Goldberg said that Israel did not appear to have been consulted about negotiations beforehand, a stark rejection of Netanyahu’s efforts in convincing the US to entrench itself further in the war.

“Is it a defeat for Netanyahu? Hell, yes!” he told Al Jazeera from outside Tel Aviv. “It’s Trump essentially ditching Israel. For now, at least, we’ll still be able to destroy Lebanon and starve Gaza, but any idea that we’re a serious player that the US or any state would want to talk with has gone. Nobody wants to talk to us.”

Objectives achieved?

Netanyahu and his allies on Israel’s far right have placed great store in the support of the US president, whose 2024 US presidential election victory was celebrated by the Israeli prime minister and framed as marking a new period of closer Israel-US partnership.

However, Trump’s unpredictable behaviour, as well as the huge power imbalance between the two countries, has led to various periods of concern, such as when the US imposed a ceasefire on Israel in Gaza in late 2025, as well as ordering the cessation of its previous attacks on Iran in June 2025.

But given the outsized role of the US in Israeli politics, some analysts have suggested that even if it is true that Israel has been sidelined in any current negotiations, that does not negate the gains it has achieved in its fight against Iran.

“I don’t think there was any expectation that Israel would be involved in diplomatic efforts to end the war. Israel is no longer a country that does diplomacy,” Israeli political analyst Nimrod Flashenberg said from Berlin. “[But] I’m doubtful that Netanyahu was ever serious about regime change. If he was, he wouldn’t have sabotaged or even killed so many people inside the regime that could have brought that about.”

“If you assume, instead, that this was about downgrading Iran’s military capabilities, then he’s done that, and he’s done it in such a way that’s going to ensure the US’s long-term commitment to making sure it remains downgraded.”

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Throughout his two terms in office, Donald Trump hasn’t been shy to criticise – even to attack – Washington’s Nato allies.

But his latest suggestion – that failing to secure the Strait of Hormuz would be « very bad for the future of Nato » – implies an understanding of the alliance’s purpose that has already raised eyebrows.

« Nato was created as a…defensive alliance, » Gen Sir Nick Carter, former Chief of the Defence Staff, told the BBC on Monday.

« It was not an alliance that was designed for one of the allies to go on a war of choice and then oblige everybody else to follow, » he said. « I’m not sure that’s the sort of Nato that any of us wanted to belong to. »

Coming from a president who only two months ago was making strident claims to Greenland, the sovereign territory of a fellow Nato member, there’s more than a little irony in his latest remarks.

This perhaps helps to explain why some responses have been fairly blunt.

In Germany, a government spokesman said the war with Iran « has nothing to do with Nato », while the Defence Minister Boris Pistorius seemed to pour scorn on the idea that Europe’s modest navies could make a difference.

« What does Trump expect from a handful of European frigates that the powerful US navy cannot do? » he asked.

« This is not our war. We have not started it. »

But none of this should hide the fact that there’s now an urgent, and growing, need for a solution to the crisis in the Gulf. Iran’s effective blocking of the Strait of Hormuz – except for a handful of vessels carrying its own oil to allies like India and China – has left western governments scrambling to find a solution.

It may be a crisis triggered by Donald Trump’s decision to go to war, but it’s one that needs to be fixed quickly, before the impacts on the global economy get any worse.

But it’s already clear that there is no quick fix.

At his news conference on Monday, Sir Keir Starmer said conversations aimed at working out a « viable plan » were ongoing with the US, European and Gulf partners, but that we’re « not at the point of decisions yet. »

The prime minister referred to autonomous mine hunting systems which he said were already in the region.

With HMS Middleton, a mine countermeasures vessel (MCMV) back in Portsmouth for major maintenance, this is the first time in decades when no British mine-clearing ship is in the region.

Instead, the Royal Navy is expected to offer newly developed seaborne drones, designed to detect and neutralise mines without putting crews at risk.

But one of the problems Donald Trump is wrestling with is that minesweeping, once a core function of almost all navies, has long since ceased to be a top priority.

Tom Sharpe, a former Royal Navy commander, said the latest British technologies had yet to be tested in combat.

« We’re probably going to find out in the next few weeks whether or not it works, » he told the BBC.

Gen Carter said the last time western nations carried out a major de-mining operation at sea was in 1991, after Iraq mined the waters off Kuwait to prevent an amphibious landing in the first Gulf War.

« It took us fifty-one days to clear the mines », he told the BBC.

« No navy has invested in this at the scale that they should have done, least of all the Americans, » he added.

The US navy’s own Avenger-class specialised minesweepers, built with wooden hulls to avoid triggering magnetic naval mines, are all being withdrawn from service, replaced by Independence-class littoral combat ships which also use a variety of unmanned systems.

But it’s not just about minesweeping. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard is also capable of using armed fast boats, naval « suicide » drones and shore-based missiles to disrupt shipping.

Recent pictures, released by Iran’s Fars News Agency, appeared to show large numbers of boats and drones being stored in underground tunnels, suggesting that Tehran has long been preparing for just such a moment.

President Trump has suggested that keeping the Strait of Hormuz open – which he last night described as « a very small endeavour » – might involve attacks on the Iranian coastline.

He said he was looking for « people who are going to knock out some bad actors that are along the shore. »

The US has already targeted mine-laying boats at berth in Iranian ports, but it’s hard to see many of Washington’s allies being willing to follow suit, especially if this involves putting boots on the ground.

In an environment so full of possible dangers, it’s not surprising that countries are hesitating to get involved, preferring instead to call, as the UK government has, for de-escalation as the surest way of unlocking the Strait of Hormuz.

But with American and Israeli officials talking about a campaign that could last several more weeks, that doesn’t look like an immediate prospect.

In the meantime, could allies be persuaded to send ships to escort merchant vessels through the vital waterway?

« Germany will not participate with its military in securing the Strait of Hormuz, » Pistorius said on Monday.

EU foreign ministers are meeting on Monday, with a proposal to extend an existing EU naval mission in the Red Sea on the table.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says changing the mandate of Operation Aspides would be the « fastest » for the EU to improve security in the Gulf.

The operation was launched in 2024 to help meet the threats to shipping posed by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

It’s a modest mission, currently involving just three warships, and there does not appear to be a huge appetite among EU members to expand it. The Spanish and Italian foreign ministers have both expressed doubts.

Germany’s foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, said his government wanted to hear from Israel and the United States « when they believe they will have achieved their military objectives in Iran, » before discussing new security arrangements.

Of the major European allies, France’s Emmanuel Macron is perhaps the keenest to get involved, saying a week ago that he was trying to put together a coalition to escort vessels and guarantee freedom of navigation.

But he said this could only happen once the « hottest phase » of the conflict was over and a few days later, his defence minister, Catherine Vautrin said there were no immediate plans to send vessels into the Strait of Hormuz.

Former Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharpe said a potential escort operation would be much more complex than Operation Aspides, with threats coming from three directions: the air, surface and underwater.

« Unlike with the Houthis, where it was only an air threat, with Iran, you have all three and you want to try and shoot these things before they’re fired, » he said. « That’s not always possible. »

At the moment, President Trump’s somewhat shellshocked allies are hesitating outside the door marked « Iran involvement, » looking nervously at each other but conscious that inaction is not really an option.

Sir Keir Starmer said the solution needed to involve « as many partners as possible », but said British military personnel needed important reassurances before being deployed on a potentially dangerous mission.

« The very least they deserve is to know that they do so on a legal basis and with a proper thought through plan. »

As things stand, that plan does not exist.

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Officials say some water and electricity facilities were damaged by projectiles amid the US-Israel bombing, and asked people to conserve resources, but no widespread outages have been reported so far.

Tehran, Iran – “The war might last weeks, so my family and I will only leave if it gets too bad. For now, life goes on,” says Sepehr, a resident of eastern Tehran.

The booming sound of explosions has been a daily reality this week where he lives, at times leaving thick smoke billowing to the horizon and shaking windows, he told Al Jazeera, asking to remain anonymous due to security reasons.

The scenes are similar across Tehran, a sprawling city of nearly 10 million people, with United States and Israeli missiles raining down in quick succession during waves of attacks that have taken place at all hours of the day since the start of the war on Saturday morning, which has killed more than 1,000 people.

Iranian officials said on Thursday that some water and electricity facilities were damaged by projectiles and asked people to conserve resources, but no widespread outages have been reported so far.

The streets of the capital are noticeably quieter and less congested than usual, and many businesses are closed. However, the basic necessities remain largely available, both in person and through online orders.

“When the bombing runs seem finished for a while, I go for a short walk once during the day to get some essentials from the local shops. There are usually queues for bread, which are not too long, and there are queues at some petrol stations,” said Marjan, who lives in a western neighbourhood.

“Except for a few items that might be in shorter supply, the shops mostly have everything you want for now, but who knows what could happen later. Either way, the prices are breaking people’s backs,” she said.

Two days before the start of the war, the Statistical Centre of Iran (SCI) and the Central Bank of Iran released separate reports that painted a grim picture of how the daily livelihoods of 90 million people had been affected by runaway prices.

The SCI put annual inflation in the Iranian month of Bahman, which ended on February 19, at 68.1 percent, while the Central Bank put it at 62.2 percent. These were some of the highest inflation rates recorded since the pre-Islamic revolution of 1979 that birthed the incumbent theocratic establishment, stoking further concern of potentially looming hyperinflation.

Iran has one of the highest food inflation rates in the world, which stood at a whopping 105 percent by the end of last month, according to the SCI.

That included a 207 percent inflation rate for cooking oil, 117 percent for red meat, 108 percent for eggs and dairy products, 113 percent for fruits and 142 percent for bread and corn.

First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref told state media on Wednesday that the government had concerns about providing sufficient medicine and medical equipment, “but fortunately today conditions are good”.

This comes as Iran’s medicine market has been in heavy turmoil over recent weeks, with prices skyrocketing and some drugs like antidepressants facing shortages in Tehran and other cities. In some cases, only Iranian-made versions of medicine can be found in the market, with foreign-made counterparts becoming rare.

The government continues to offer a meagre cash subsidy to people to buy essential goods, and recently expanded items purchasable through the scheme to include baby diapers, another item that has more than doubled in price over recent months.

Government officials also continue to emphasise that provincial governors and ministers have been empowered to import essential goods in large quantities with reduced red tape to ensure continuity in case of a lingering war.

The Iranian economy, bruised and isolated after decades of corruption and mismanagement paired with US and United Nations sanctions, is again on pause as its forces launch ballistic missiles and drones across the region amid the war.

The Iranian rial stood at about 1.66 million per US dollar before the war, near an all-time low. The stock market was a sea of red as investors baulked at prospects of an increasingly uncertain future, while traditional assets like gold soared.

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The resolution passed but the vote demonstrated persistent flouting international law in favour of strategic interest.

The death toll from an Israeli air attack in Beirut’s southern suburbs has risen to 37 people, including three children and seven women, Lebanon’s health minister says.

On September 18, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution calling for Israel to terminate its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory within one year. The vote, which concluded with 124 in favour, 12 against, and 43 abstained, has been interpreted by some as a significant triumph for Palestinian advocacy.

Yet, the fact that 54 countries (excluding Israel) – constituting about 28 percent of all member states – did not back the resolution cannot be overlooked. It not only signifies a failure of moral courage but also underscores a pervasive hypocrisy that continues to shape global governance. In fact, it reflects continuing efforts to erode the international regime in order to ensure impunity for Israel.

The resolution in question demanded that Israel “brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”. It reiterated the findings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ruled in July that Israel’s occupation was illegal, that its settlements on occupied Palestinian land are also illegal and must be dismantled, and that it needs to pay reparations for damages incurred by the Palestinians.

International law is quite clear on the question of occupation: it is a criminal act. A consensus among international scholars underscores that an occupier cannot invoke the right of self-defence against the people it occupies – an argument Israel has employed to justify its nefarious genocidal actions.

In the context of this ruling by the World Court, voting against and abstaining from voting on the UNGA resolution cannot be dismissed as mere political neutrality. By choosing not to support a resolution that re-affirms the illegality of the Israeli occupation, these nations implicitly endorse Israel’s actions and contribute to the perpetuation of a status quo marked by brutal oppression and suffering. They also openly disregard and thus attack the provisions of international law.

It is important to remember that this vote came amid a continuing Israeli aggression against Gaza and the West Bank, in which nearly 42,000 Palestinians – the majority of them women and children – have been killed and more than 100,000 injured. In January, the ICJ issued a preliminary ruling that Isreal is “plausibly” violating the Genocide Convention with its actions in Gaza. This genocidal violence is a direct consequence of the decades-long illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.

The October 7 attack last year by Hamas cannot be viewed in isolation. It is rooted in decades of brutal occupation that has left Palestinians trapped in what many describe as the world’s largest open-air prison, where systemic oppression, displacement, and violence have defined millions of Palestinian lives. Understanding this context is essential to addressing the underlying issues and moving toward a just and lasting resolution that honours the dignity and humanity of all affected.

One of the 12 countries that voted against the resolution – the United States – has been a long-time supporter of the Israeli occupation, sending billions worth of weapons to its military before and after October. For its role in arming Israel, the US has been repeatedly accused of complicity in Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Strangely, the US representative to the UN entered a “no” vote despite the fact that Judge Sarah Cleveland, who represents the US at the ICJ, voted in favour of all the court’s opinions in the July ruling.

What makes the US position even more problematic is that it has had the exact opposite stance on occupations elsewhere. In 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and occupied parts of its territory, Washington was at the forefront of global condemnation, sending billions in military and financial aid to the Ukrainian army. This has set a troubling double standard that other countries allied with the US have also followed.

The United Kingdom, for example, expressed “considerable concerns” about the January ICJ ruling and rejected genocide allegations against Israel. On September 18, it chose to abstain. Despite its own legal advisers warning that British weapons could be used for human rights violations in Gaza, the British government has continued its arms shipments to the Israeli army, suspending just 30 out of 350 arms export licences.

Like Washington, London has also extended significant military support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian occupation and wholeheartedly backed investigations into war crimes committed by Russian forces.

Germany, which also abstained on September 18, is another example of a country with a troubling position. As a key supplier of arms to Israel, Germany faces serious allegations of facilitating the commission of genocide, complicating its moral standing and raising questions about its commitment to human rights. Its government has announced plans to intervene in the main hearing of the genocide case against Israel at the ICJ, categorically rejecting the accusations of genocide without substantial justification.

While trying to block legal proceedings against Israel, Germany has accelerated investigations launched by its own justice system into war crimes committed in Ukraine.

Various other countries in Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific – mostly US and NATO allies – have also either voted against the UNGA resolution or abstained, putting geopolitical considerations above international law and ethics.

The hypocrisy inherent in these geopolitical alliances raises critical questions about the integrity of the global legal framework. Why is it that violations committed by Israel, an ally of powerful Western nations, are met with silence or insufficient condemnation and others are not? This inconsistency not only deepens the divisions between the West and the Global South, but also damages the legitimacy of international law and its ability to prevent atrocities.

The more Israel is shielded by these countries, the more it flouts international law without fear of consequences and the more brutal and deadly its abuses become. And its violations do not only affect the Palestinian population. This pattern of impunity undermines the foundational principles of justice and accountability and encourages others to engage in such crimes.

The abstention of 43 countries and the opposition from 11 others regarding the UNGA resolution send a clear message to the world: there are “no rules”. This alarming trend suggests that nations with powerful militaries can act unilaterally, disregarding international law without consequence. If we fail to halt this erosion of the legal regime, we risk descending into a world governed by the “law of the jungle”.

Such a breakdown of international law would have catastrophic implications for human civilisation. It would foster a climate where the powerful can trample on the rights of the weak, perpetuating cycles of violence and oppression. The hypocrisy evident in the global response to the Palestinian plight exemplifies this dangerous disregard for justice and accountability. As these 54 countries continue to turn a blind eye to grave violations, the foundations of global order are threatened.

To restore faith in international law, countries must prioritise human rights over strategic interests. This requires a unified front from the international community. Nations must hold each other accountable for their actions and speak out against violations, regardless of political affiliations or alliances. A true commitment to justice necessitates that the principles of international law be applied consistently and without bias.

Only through decisive action can the ideals of international law be upheld and the world saved from a dark, lawless future.

Israel-Hezbollah attacks resume after Lebanon says 37 killed in Israeli strike on Beirut

Here’s a look at today’s main developments:

The death toll from an Israeli air attack in Beirut’s southern suburbs has risen to 37 people, including three children and seven women, Lebanon’s health minister says.

The strike, which wrecked two buildings in the Lebanese capital’s Dahiya district during rush hour on Friday, also injured more than 60 people, Health Minister Firass Abiad told a news conference on Saturday.

Cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel have resumed. Hezbollah says it has fired rockets at two military positions in northern Israel, while the IDF said it was attacking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon

The number of people killed in the Israeli strike on Beirut on Friday has risen to 37, the Lebanese health ministry says, as search and rescue efforts in Dahieh continue.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said it killed 16 Hezbollah members in the strike, including 12 senior commanders.

A news conference by Lebanon’s health ministry revealed this morning that 152 people are still in a critical condition after the device explosions on Tuesday and Wednesday. It also said the number of those killed over the two days of explosions has risen from 37 to 39.

Away from Lebanon in Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry says at least 22 people, « mostly » children and women, have been killed following a strike on a school in Gaza city housing displaced people.

World Opinions + BBC News + Aljazeera News

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The conflict in Sudan has displaced more than two million people, triggering one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. The international community has a responsibility to do more.

At Renk in South Sudan, 40km (25 miles) south of the border with Sudan, I met a young boy – Miyok, orphaned by the brutality of the Sudan conflict. Miyok is one of at least 600,000 refugees who have fled to South Sudan since the start of the conflict a year ago. He now lives with his aunt in one of the two transit centres.

Despite facing myriad challenges, Miyok’s wish is simple yet profound – to be educated and have the opportunity to fulfil his dream of becoming a doctor.

As international donors met earlier this week in Paris, Miyok’s story resonated deeply. His dream represents not only his personal aspirations but also embodies the collective hope of a nation striving for a better future.

A future that continues to remain uncertain, however. In Paris, donors pledged $2bn to support millions of people in Sudan and in host countries. Although this is most welcome, it is only half of the $4.1bn needed to give people their next meal and what they need to survive and rebuild their lives.

To date, the conflict in Sudan has displaced at least two million people, triggering one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. Neighbouring countries – South Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Libya – are feeling the impact whether through strained resources, economic disruptions or risk of the conflict spilling over.

We have seen up to 1,500 people arriving every day in Renk, some on donkey carts, others crammed into overcrowded minivans, and those who can’t afford transport walk for miles under the scorching sun to reach the border.

Many of those who have fled are women carrying nothing but a small bundle of clothes on their backs and their children. Their eyes are filled with exhaustion, fear, and uncertainty about what the future holds.

Time and time again, when I met with officials and Oxfam’s partners in South Sudan, the phrase “perfect storm” was mentioned, summarising the prevailing challenges which have plunged the nation further into destitution.

Even before the war in Sudan erupted, South Sudan was already suffering from intercommunal conflict over resources and a climate crisis, which have created a dire humanitarian crisis. Two-thirds of the population urgently needs food, including 35,000 people facing starvation. Nearly nine million people currently depend on aid for survival.

Despite contributing little to global carbon emissions, South Sudan has been hit hard in recent years by climate change-induced erratic weather patterns – harsh droughts and boiling temperatures followed by heavy rains leading to severe flooding which have continued to wreck property, infrastructure and crops. This situation, compounded by an economic crisis, has had devastating effects on an already vulnerable population.

To make matters worse, the country’s key oil pipeline, which passes through neighbouring Sudan, was damaged in February. With oil responsible for 90 percent of South Sudan’s revenue and the pipeline accounting for two-thirds of oil revenues, the loss of the pipeline puts the already fragile economy on the brink.

Despite South Sudan’s humanitarian and economic crisis, and the increasing influx of refugees from neighbouring Sudan, aid has dwindled to an extreme low. In 2023, the United Nations appeal for South Sudan was slashed by half to $1.79bn, but less than four percent of the target was met.

The resilience of the South Sudanese people has been repeatedly tested, yet the difficulty in fully implementing the 2020 peace agreement risks jeopardising the legitimacy of the government. This situation, coupled with an economic crisis, could intensify further the ongoing violence.

To overcome this deep crisis, South Sudan needs three key things. First, an immediate injection of aid funding that not only focuses on short-term emergency support but also prioritises development that empowers South Sudanese people to break free from the vicious cycle of shocks and be able to rebuild their lives.

Second, while external support is crucial, the South Sudan government should intensify efforts to lead, build basic infrastructure and provide essential public services so the economy works for the South Sudanese people.

Third, and most importantly, as the country heads towards elections later this year, many in South Sudan see this as a crucial step in addressing the governance, economic and humanitarian challenges. A lasting peace will help avert the perfect storm and ensure a stronger South Sudan.

Amid the chaos, those who love this country, from government officials to grassroots activists and partners, share a determination to rebuild a nation torn apart by conflict and climatic shocks.

Despite the numerous crises the world is currently experiencing, we should not turn our backs on the South Sudanese people and the refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan. We urge donors who met in Paris this week to keep the momentum and immediately scale up the humanitarian response and renew their call for an immediate ceasefire and an inclusive peace process.

I left South Sudan with my heart aching for Miyok and countless others, whose futures hang in the balance. But I refuse to lose hope.  We should all rally together as partners in progress, empowering South Sudanese communities to chart their path towards a brighter future.

By Amitabh Behar – Interim Executive Director of Oxfam international – Al Jazeera

L’article The world cannot turn its back on Sudan and its neighbours any longer est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.