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The recent announcement of a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the US has been hailed by Donald Trump as a victorious dawn of a new era, but it is Iran that enters peace talks with the stronger hand. The Tehran regime has demonstrated its power to close the Hormuz strait and holds a stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU), the original crux of the conflict with the US, Israel, and allies.Trump won instant gratification with the ceasefire, which allowed him to remain the central player in the drama and claim a few hours later to have dramatically reversed course and be “far along” along the road to an enduring Middle East peace. However, the actual ceasefire terms remain hazy with varying interpretations in circulation.Iran's 10-point plan, not Trump's 15-pointer, was referred to when welcoming the ceasefire, calling it “a workable basis on which to negotiate”. The Tehran government included the right to enrich in the Farsi version of the ceasefire terms, but not in the English translation, suggesting it was put there for domestic consumption as the regime boasted victory.There seems little doubt that Iran will make the right to enrich uranium a red line at talks over a long-term settlement, as it has in all its negotiations with the west, and its possession of 440kg of HEU (enough in theory to make a dozen nuclear warheads) will be a powerful bargaining chip.

Afghanistan has deemed the peace talks with Pakistan, facilitated by China, as 'useful' in addressing the ongoing conflict between the two nations.The talks, which began on April 1 in the western Chinese city of Urumqi, aim to stop the violence that started in February, resulting in hundreds of deaths and significant concern for Beijing due to its proximity to western Chinese regions.The conflict escalated after Pakistan conducted air strikes inside Afghanistan, including in the capital Kabul, leading to accusations from Afghanistan of civilian casualties, including children.The situation has drawn international alarm, particularly given the presence of other armed groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS in the region.94,000 people have been displaced overall, with 100,000 individuals in two Afghan districts near the border completely cut off due to the fighting since February.Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry has expressed gratitude to China for hosting the talks and acknowledged the mediation efforts of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.Despite the talks, Afghanistan has continued to accuse Pakistan of shelling across its border, killing and wounding civilians, while Pakistan denies these allegations and instead accuses Afghanistan of providing a safe haven to armed groups like the Pakistan Taliban (TTP).

The question of whether a peaceful settlement is possible in Iran remains a pressing concern for the international community. Diplomatic efforts have been underway to find a resolution to the country's complex situation, but a lasting solution has yet to be achieved.The country's strategic location in the Middle East makes its stability crucial for regional and global security. However, Iran's nuclear program and its stance on various international issues have been major points of contention.Despite these challenges, there are ongoing efforts to engage in dialogue and find a peaceful resolution. The international community continues to seek a negotiated settlement that addresses the concerns of all parties involved.

Pakistan's attempts to facilitate peace talks between Iran and the US are encountering substantial obstacles. The intensification of Israeli bombing campaigns on civilian targets in Iran and an expanding US military presence in the Gulf region are casting a shadow over these efforts.Pakistan, maintaining relative neutrality with good relations with both Iran and the US, had hoped to provide a venue for negotiations. However, the conflict is widening, trust is scarce, and the stated positions of Tehran and Washington are far apart. Pakistani officials believe Israel's actions pose a significant risk to any potential talks, particularly given recent attacks on civilian nuclear sites and steel plants.Iran's core concerns include ensuring an end to the war and preventing future attacks by the US and Israel. Former Pakistani ambassador to the US, Maleeha Lodhi, expressed skepticism about US President Donald Trump's reliability, citing his unpredictable nature.Despite these challenges, Pakistan continues its diplomatic efforts. The country's prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has been in communication with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and foreign ministers from Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are set to hold talks in Islamabad to discuss ending the conflict.The situation remains complex, with US troop buildup suggesting that peace talks may not align with US plans. Iran has expressed distrust towards previous US interlocutors, but there is consideration for US Vice-President JD Vance to represent the US in talks, an idea supported by Iran.

The conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran has escalated with a series of attacks on Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, and other locations such as Tabriz, Isfahan, and Karaj. These attacks occurred even as US President Donald Trump claimed that Washington was engaged in productive conversations with Tehran to end the war.Iranian media reported that Israeli-US strikes targeted two gas facilities and a pipeline, hours after Trump postponed planned attacks on power infrastructure. The attacks resulted in partial damage to facilities in central Iran, including a gas administration building and a gas pressure regulation station in Isfahan.A leading scholar and professor at a science university in Tehran, Saeed Shamaghdari, was killed alongside his two children in an attack on his residence north of the capital. Iran's English-language news channel Press TV identified Shamaghdari as a teacher at the engineering department of the Iran University of Science and Technology.The head of Iran's emergency service, Jafar Miadfar, reported that 208 children have been killed since the war began on February 28, with 168 of them dying in the US missile strikes on a girls' school in Minab city. Rights groups have called for an investigation into the Minab attack as a potential war crime.More than 1,500 civilians have been killed across Iran, according to the Iranian government. The US-Israel war on Iran has expanded across the Middle East, leading to a spike in oil prices and triggering a global energy crisis.Despite the escalation of violence, Iran's Foreign Minister Abass Araghchi has held calls with several countries, including Egypt, Pakistan, and Oman, in an attempt to open a diplomatic channel. However, senior Iranian officials have denied that Iran is engaged in talks with the US, contradicting Trump's claims of productive conversations.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has emphasized the need for a negotiated solution to the conflict, warning that the situation is critical for energy supplies and condemning Iran's efforts to block energy exports through the Strait of Hormuz.

A series of missile strikes hit the Gaza region on March 24, 2026, just after the Israeli president had visited the area. The incident has heightened tensions in the Middle East conflict, which has been a longstanding source of instability in the region.The visit by the Israeli president and the subsequent missile strikes have raised concerns about the potential for further escalation and the impact on civilians in the Gaza region. The escalation of violence in the area has been a major concern for international leaders, who have been calling for a de-escalation of tensions and a return to peace talks.

Ella Baron, a renowned cartoonist, has created a thought-provoking cartoon for The Guardian, focusing on Donald Trump's peace negotiations with Iran. The cartoon, published on March 24, 2026, offers a visual commentary on the complex dynamics between the United States, Israel, and Iran.The illustration is part of The Guardian's series of opinion cartoons, which provide a unique perspective on current events. This particular cartoon by Ella Baron delves into the delicate balance of power in the Middle East and the challenges of achieving peace in the region.The cartoonist's work often sparks important discussions and reflections on US foreign policy and its implications for global relations. By visually representing the intricacies of international diplomacy, Ella Baron's cartoons encourage readers to think critically about the Middle East and North Africa conflict.

Pakistan's military leadership has been playing a crucial role in attempting to broker negotiations between the US and Iran. The country's army chief, Asim Munir, recently had a call with US President Donald Trump to discuss the conflict. Diplomatic sources indicate that the US and Iran could meet for negotiations in Islamabad as early as this week to discuss an end to the war, which began almost a month ago. While Islamabad has yet to be officially confirmed as the venue, sources suggest that Tehran prefers Islamabad. Pakistani sources mention that US Vice-President JD Vance is being considered as a probable chief negotiator from the US side, rather than Trump's Middle East envoy Witkoff or Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Vance is viewed as a sceptic of the US decision to bomb Iran and has largely kept quiet on the conflict. After the phone call between Trump and Munir, Pakistan's Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday. According to an official readout of the call, they agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy. Sources suggest that Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, is likely to lead any talks from the Iranian side. However, Ghalibaf has dismissed reports of talks between the two sides as 'fake news'. An Iranian diplomatic source confirmed that talks are expected this week but expressed 'zero trust' in Washington. They stated that Iran would not accept Witkoff and Kushner as negotiators for any discussions. Negotiations between the US and Iran were ongoing when the US began its bombing campaign. The Iranian regime views these negotiations as an attempt by the Trump administration to deceive Iran into thinking it wanted a diplomatic solution while planning to attack. On Monday, Trump indicated that he would be willing to halt US strikes, claiming that 'strong talks' were being held between Iranian officials and Witkoff and Kushner. Trump told reporters that they had 'very, very strong talks' and that they had 'major points of agreement, I would say, almost all points of agreement'. The US president has given a five-day deadline to an ultimatum he gave over the weekend, threatening to 'obliterate' Iran's power plants and energy infrastructure if they did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route currently being blockaded by Iran's military. Trump's announcement of talks helped boost markets, bringing oil prices sharply down to below $100 (£75) a barrel, the lowest in days.