South Korea to send special envoy to Iran amid Hormuz Strait uncertainty

🔹 South Korea's Foreign Ministry has announced that it will dispatch a special envoy to Iran to assess the situation in the Middle East.

🔹 The decision comes as contradictory reports continue to emerge from the United States and Iran regarding the status of the Strait of Hormuz's reopening.

🔹 The decision to send the envoy was made during a phone call between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Iran's Seyyed Abbas Araghchi.

🔹 According to Seoul's Foreign Ministry, since the conflict began on February 28 and Iran closed this vital maritime route, a total of 26 Korean-affiliated vessels have been trapped in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Takht-Ravanchi says Iran’s ten-point proposal has been agreed as the basis for talks.

Iran supports diplomacy and dialogue, but rejects talks based on misinformation or any process that could pave the way for renewed aggression.

Iran does not want a ceasefire that allows an aggressor to rearm and strike again, and we stress that any agreement must include guarantees to prevent a repeat of hostilities.

US Vice President departs for Pakistan

🔹 JD Vance, the US Vice President, said before departing for Pakistan:

🔹 "We are eagerly looking forward to the negotiations. I think it will be positive. If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith and open their hands, that's good."

🔹 "If they want to play us, they will find that the negotiating team is not so receptive."

🔹 "The President has given us very clear instructions. We will see how things go."

Hezbollah's Secretary-General to Lebanon: 'The era of free concessions is over'

Naim Qassem:

🔹 "The Israeli enemy was helpless on the battlefield against the heroes of the resistance and could not launch the ground attack it had repeatedly announced."

🔹 "The Zionist enemy changed its goals multiple times – sometimes demanding the Litani River, sometimes limited advances."

🔹 "The enemy was surprised by the resistance's methods, the fighters' flexibility, and their defensive capabilities."

🔹 "We will never accept a return to the previous situation. I ask officials to refrain from making free, unconditional concessions."

🔹 "The era of free concessions is over."

‼️Iran forced Israel to halt Beirut attacks – negotiations contingent on ceasefire

🔹 A senior security source told Press TV that due to Iran's insistence and pressure, the Zionist regime was forced to stop its attacks on Beirut.

🔹 Following the regime's brutal assaults on Lebanon, Iran – emphasizing resistance front unity – made the cessation of these attacks a precondition for its participation in temporary ceasefire negotiations with the United States.

🔹 According to the source, an Iranian delegation's trip to Islamabad was postponed several times for this reason. Iran warned that continued Zionist attacks on Lebanon could nullify the talks altogether.

🔹 Through Iran's persistent push and credible threat to walk out of the negotiations, the US was compelled to force the Zionist regime to halt its strikes on Beirut.

🔹 The source further stressed that the continuation of talks remains contingent on the Zionist regime refraining from attacking Beirut and the Dahieh suburb. Should the regime violate this and strike Beirut again, the negotiations will be terminated.

Two agreed-upon actions remain unfulfilled – Lebanon ceasefire and release of Iran's frozen assets: Ghalibaf

🔹 Iran parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote on X:

🔹 "Two of the agreed-upon actions between the parties have not yet been fulfilled: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's frozen assets – both scheduled before the start of negotiations."

🔹 "These two issues must be realized before negotiations begin."

Yemen rallies for resistance axis 🇾🇪

🔹 Thousands marched in support of Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestinian resistance. 🇮🇷 🇱🇧 🇮🇶 🇵🇸

🔹 "Unity against the US and Zionist regime – the resistance axis stands firm."

✍ Mohammad Mahdi Rahmati, Tehran Times Managing Director

For Iran, Dahiyeh holds the weight of a capital

Hours after Iran accepted a US-proposed ceasefire through Pakistani mediation—explicitly including Lebanon—unprecedented Israeli airstrikes hit Dahiyeh, killing over 300 people. Netanyahu claimed the truce doesn’t cover Hezbollah. The US then denied any agreement on Lebanon, accusing Iran of “misunderstanding.”

But Iran’s position is clear: The Resistance is not a bargaining chip. The Islamic Republic does not treat Hezbollah as a disposable satellite. In Iran’s strategic doctrine, Dahiyeh holds the same importance as Tehran.

Without a binding horizon that fully addresses Lebanon’s security, Iran cannot negotiate an existential war. The US must first restrain Netanyahu’s provocations—otherwise dialogue remains a cycle of broken promises, lost opportunities, and further escalation.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/525322/For-Iran-Dahiyeh-holds-the-weight-of-a-capital

Lebanon martyr toll from Israeli aggression rises to 357 since Wednesday

🔹 Lebanon's Health Ministry announced that the total number of victims from Israeli regime aggression since March 2 has reached 1,953 martyrs and 6,303 wounded.

🔹 The ministry added that during the Israeli regime's aggression on Beirut and other areas of Lebanon from Wednesday until now, 357 people have been martyred and another 1,223 wounded.

Shehbaz Sharif: Iran and US ready for negotiations – delegations arrive in Islamabad Saturday

Pakistan's Prime Minister, ahead of Iran-US talks in Islamabad:

🔹 "I thank both sides for preparing to negotiate."

🔹 "US and Iranian delegations will be in Pakistan tomorrow (Saturday). We will do everything we can for the success of the talks."

🔹 "Field Marshal Asim Munir played a role in containing the flames of war that will always be remembered. A temporary ceasefire has been secured, but the difficult stage is achieving a complete ceasefire."

🔹 "The ceasefire is in place, and we are working toward a more advanced stage: ending the war through negotiations."

🔹 "For the success of these talks, I ask Muslims to pray that innocent lives are saved and peace is established."

🔹 "In the Persian Gulf countries, instead of war, peace will now be spoken of."

📰 The full version of the newspaper is available in the PDF file here.

Minab's martyred students – Ghalibaf's companions to Pakistan ✈️🇮🇷

🔹 Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf alibaf posted an image on X from inside an airplane, standing before the pictures of martyred students from Minab school placed on aircraft seats, and wrote:

🔹 "My fellow travelers on this flight – Minab 168."

US must accept Iran's rights: Ghalibaf

🔹 Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf , Iran's Parliament Speaker, stated ahead of the Islamabad talks that reaching an agreement is conditional upon US acceptance of Iran's rights.

🔹 "Iran has come to the Islamabad negotiations in good faith – but it has no trust in America."

🔹 "The US has not honored its previous commitments in past negotiations."

Pakistan Foreign Minister: Determined to facilitate a durable solution to end the war

🔹 Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, spoke as a high-level Iranian delegation arrived in Islamabad for talks with the United States to end the war – convened at the invitation and proposal of Pakistan's Prime Minister.

🔹 He stated that Islamabad is committed to facilitating efforts to achieve a sustainable and durable solution to end the war.

🔹 Pakistan's Foreign Minister expressed hope that both negotiating parties would engage constructively.

Iranian negotiating team's technical and expert members in Pakistan 🇮🇷🤝

🔹 Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf – Parliament Speaker – leads the Iranian delegation, joined by: 🏛️

▪️Seyyed Abbas Araghchi (Foreign Minister) 🌍

▪️Abdolnaser Hemmati (Central Bank Governor) 💰

▪️Ali Akbar Ahmadian (Defense Council member) 🛡️

🔹 Other members include:

▪️Kazem Gharibabadi (Deputy FM) 📝

▪️Esmaeil Baqaei (FM Spokesman) 🗣️

▪️Ali Bagheri Kani (SNSC Deputy for Foreign Policy) 🏢

▪️Seyyed Mahmoud Nabavian & Abolfazl Amouei (MPs) 👥

▪️Mehdi Mohammadi (Strategic Advisor to Parliament Speaker) 💡

🔹 The US delegation reportedly includes 300 people – including main negotiators, advisory committees, and a significant security and protocol contingent. 🇺🇸👮

🔹 The Iranian delegation is participating with 71 members – including main negotiators, expert teams, media, and standard protocol/security teams. 🇮🇷📰🔒