Search

As the U.S.-Iran ceasefire deadline looms, here are the main sticking points

conflict](https://www.npr.org/series/1205445976/middle-east-crisis) ### [What's it like to negotiate with Iran? We asked people who have done it](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/18/nx-s1-5783873/iran-talks-islamabad-nuclear-jcpoa) But the prospects for renewed diplomacy remain unclear. Iranian state media said Tuesday

Mediators push to extend U.S.-Iran ceasefire

currently in place. "Peace in Lebanon is essential for peace talks," Tahir Andrabi, a spokesperson for Pakistan's foreign ministry [told](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/live-blog/live-updates-iran-war-israel-lebanon-leaders-talks-ceasefire-trump-rcna332095) Reuters. Israel, however, continued operations in southern Lebanon Thursday, including

Iraq’s paramilitary groups say they will disarm. Will that ever happen?

Israel war on Iran, and the economic challenges brought on by that war, al-Zaidi knows that he needs to clamp down on the power of Iraq’s paramilitary groups to attract outside investment

What's it like to negotiate with Iran? We asked people who have done it

Hezbollah warned residents not to return to their villages for their own safety.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x4000+1000+0/resize/100/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F71%2F92%2F11ce087f448182cdfe31a4cc75cd%2Fgettyimages-2271154577.jpg)](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/17/g-s1-117788/middle-east-conflict-israel-lebanon-us-updates) ### [Middle East conflict](https://www.npr.org/series/1205445976/middle-east-crisis) ### [The Strait of Hormuz opens for commercial ships but the U.S. blockade continues

Israel’s war creating a ‘lost generation’ of Lebanese students

Hezbollah’s first response to months of unanswered Israeli attacks on Lebanon, including more than 10,000 violations of the November 2024 ceasefire between the two sides. Since March, Israeli attacks have displaced more than

4 states head to the polls. And, global conflicts are on the rise, new report says

Hezbollah in Beirut. Trump had a heated phone call with Netanyahu, telling him not to go through with those actions. Yesterday, when Israel and Iran exchanged missile fire, Trump once again stepped in, calling

Will Iran give up on ceasefire talks as strait of Hormuz blockade continues?

Hezbollah](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/07/israel-escalates-war-hezbollah-airstrikes-beirut) a direct *casus belli* for Iran for the first time, but also by drawing the Houthis in Yemen back into the conflict with as yet incalculable consequences. Some in Tehran, buoyed

Does Trump hold ‘all the cards’ against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz?

conflict could further escalate, despite the near-month-long fragile ceasefire. Tehran has been effectively blocking nearly all shipping from the Gulf for more than two months, after the US and Israel attacked Iran