> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://middlepowers.fyi/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Near East and South Asia > Week of April 13, 2026 ## Regional Summary **The Channel Is Not the Dealmaker** The US-Iran conflict turned indispensability into the week's main prize, and every regional power with the means pressed its claim. Turkey hosted the room; Saudi Arabia ran the phones; the UAE built the legal record; Pakistan carried the message to Tehran. The question is not whether these countries matter — plainly they do. It is whether mattering is the same as being powerful, and the evidence cuts both ways. Pakistan made the strongest claim. The White House designated it the "sole mediator" and praised both Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister, and Asim Munir, the army chief turned field marshal, as "very extraordinary men." Field Marshal Munir spent three days in Tehran carrying American proposals. The week's most telling detail was operational: after the first Islamabad round ended without agreement, Iranian negotiators told Pakistan they feared an Israeli strike on their aircraft heading home, and Pakistan Air Force jets escorted them out. That was real military risk for a country that cannot control whether Iran returns for a second round or accepts what Washington is offering. Iran left citing excessive American demands and ceasefire violations that Islamabad cannot remedy. The "sole mediator" designation reflects Washington's limited options more than Pakistani power. Pakistan is the channel; it is not the dealmaker. Saudi Arabia and Turkey are doing something harder and more durable. Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the foreign minister, ran nine rounds of consultations in 48 hours — not managing Riyadh's own exposure but building the diplomatic architecture around the conflict: calls to Tehran, Amman, Cairo, Kuwait, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Islamabad and Seoul, then a four-way ministerial in Antalya with his Turkish, Pakistani and Egyptian counterparts. The \$8 billion package for Pakistan that Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince, announced the same week follows the same logic: keeping Islamabad solvent preserves Riyadh's most useful security partner and its main channel into the mediation effort. Turkey, meanwhile, was the room where everyone came — 23 heads of state at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Russia's Federation Council chair at Dolmabahçe, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan meeting Syria's new leader, Libya's prime minister and Pakistan's prime minister on the sidelines. Tom Barrack, the American ambassador, told the forum that Ankara rejoining the F-35 programme was "fine from my boss's point of view" — the bluntest American signal since Turkey was ejected in 2019, delivered on Turkish soil, at a Turkish-organised event. The July NATO summit will be held in Ankara. Turkey is not merely attending Western institutions; it is hosting the next one. The UAE's position is the most contradictory and, in some ways, the most honest. Anwar Gargash, a presidential adviser, announced that the country had intercepted 96% of the 2,256 drones and 563 missiles Iran fired over 40 days — more than double the combined total aimed at Kuwait, and nearly ten times what Qatar faced — and called it a victory. At the same time, Mansour bin Zayed, the vice president, placed the first confirmed senior call to Iran since Abu Dhabi closed its Tehran embassy in March. Iran responded by demanding compensation from the UAE for its role in "the American and Israeli war," directly inverting Abu Dhabi's own demands and leaving both sides at their opening positions. The victory narrative rests on a further complication: one French intelligence newsletter, not yet independently confirmed, reported that EDGE Group's homegrown systems played no part in the intercepts, and that the defences which held were American Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries, American Patriot missiles and French Rafale jets. If that finding stands, the UAE remains dependent on foreign systems for actual combat, whatever its ambitions for a domestic arms industry. The legal record it has been building week by week at the International Maritime Organization, and Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Abu Dhabi's crown prince, signing 24 agreements in Beijing in the same week the UAE pledged \$1.4 trillion in investment in the American economy, suggest a country doing everything at once and trusting the contradictions not to catch up. India, conspicuously, did none of this. While its neighbours scrambled to press into the mediation effort, India's parliament failed three constitutional bills — a delimitation amendment, a Lok Sabha expansion, and early women's reservation — for want of a two-thirds majority the National Democratic Alliance does not have and will not have before 2029. Narendra Modi converted the defeat into campaign material the following morning, accusing the opposition of "female foeticide" in a nationally televised address. A South Korean state visit, a vice-presidential trip to Colombo, a call from the French president — none of it was urgent. That steadiness may prove more durable than it looks. The countries that spent this week converting conflict into leverage face a harder test once the conflict resolves: whether the relationships built under pressure survive without it, and whether a channel — once the message has been delivered — remains indispensable at all. ## Country Summaries *** ### Turkey flag Turkey The American ambassador to Turkey told a hall full of foreign ministers this week that the S-400 dispute would be "solved soon" and that Ankara rejoining the F-35 programme was "fine from my boss's point of view" — the bluntest American signal since Turkey was ejected from the programme in 2019, and potentially the most consequential shift in their defence relationship in years. Tom Barrack made that statement at Turkey's own diplomatic forum. The fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum drew 23 heads of state and delegations from more than 150 countries, and its scale — matched this week by Turkey's parallel hosting of the 152nd Inter-Parliamentary Union General Assembly in Istanbul — confirmed that Ankara is now building forums of its own, not merely attending them. Erdoğan met on the sidelines with Syria's Ahmad al-Sharaa, Libya's Abdel Hamid Dbeibah, Pakistan's Shehbaz Sharif, Bosnia's tri-presidency, the Kurdistan Regional Government's Masrour Barzani, and Hungary's new prime minister. Russia's Federation Council chair was received separately at Dolmabahçe. Turkey was the room where everyone came. Hakan Fidan, the foreign minister, argued at the forum that Turkey was indispensable. Any American withdrawal from European security architecture, he said, "would be very destructive for Europe if not done in a coordinated way." He called the EU-NATO overlap dysfunctional and the July NATO summit — to be held in Ankara — a chance to reset the alliance's ties with Washington. Turkey is not just attending Western institutions; it is hosting the next one. On Iran, Mr Erdoğan told parliament on April 15 that Turkey was "working to extend a ceasefire" between Washington and Tehran and conveying "necessary suggestions to ease tensions." The Defence Ministry pledged to sustain the process. At the forum's margins, the foreign ministers of Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt met to coordinate — a structured quadrilateral rather than a solo Turkish operation. Mr Barrack's defence remarks came with a complication. At the same forum, he described Middle Eastern governance as requiring "merciful monarchies or benevolent authoritarian regimes." Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Istanbul mayor detained since March, called the remarks unacceptable. Özgür Özel, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), declared Mr Barrack persona non grata. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) said nothing. The opposition read its silence as endorsement, and the episode handed İmamoğlu a gift he quickly used: the American ambassador praising authoritarian governance at a forum hosted by the government that had put him in prison. Mr İmamoğlu has not gone quiet from Silivri. This week brought the 23rd hearing in his Istanbul criminal trial. Police also arrested Onursal Adıgüzel, the mayor of Ataşehir district, in a pre-dawn raid — the latest in a wave of operations against CHP-run municipalities. From prison, Mr İmamoğlu published "Çare Millettir" — "The Remedy Is the Nation" — a widely shared article calling for elections and comparing those who "bow to orders" to Eichmann. He described the current government as "a handful of greedy individuals" imposing an "interregnum." He commands 9.7 million social media followers and has a functioning publishing channel; imprisonment has not silenced him. The week also produced an event with no political content that the government handled as though it had. On April 15, a 14-year-old student killed eight classmates and a teacher at a school in Kahramanmaraş — the country's first deadly mass school shooting, one day after a separate incident in Şanlıurfa that injured 16. Within hours, police detained around 150 people for social media posts and blocked more than 1,000 accounts and Telegram groups. Mr Erdoğan warned against "politicizing" the tragedy. Schools reopened with prayer. The censorship apparatus activated as reflexively for grief as it does for politics. Turkey's central bank is expected to hold its policy rate at 37% at its April 22 meeting, extending 11 months of orthodox monetary policy. The bank's April survey showed market participants revised their year-end inflation forecast up by 2.15 percentage points to 27.53% — slower disinflation than they had expected, but still disinflation. Reserves rose \$9.27 billion to \$170.9 billion in the week ending April 10. * **İmamoğlu trial continues as police raids target additional CHP-run municipalities** — The 23rd hearing in the Istanbul criminal case against Ekrem İmamoğlu, Istanbul's detained mayor, proceeded, with bodyguards and officials making their defence. Concurrently, police arrested Ataşehir Mayor Onursal Adıgüzel in a dawn raid and detained multiple officials of the Republican People's Party (CHP), adding to an existing wave of operations against opposition-run municipalities. From prison, İmamoğlu published a widely circulated article ("Çare Millettir" — "The Remedy Is the Nation") calling for elections and condemning the crackdown, while Özgür Özel, the party's leader, returned from Spain to lead a rally in Ataşehir. *([cumhuriyet.com.tr](https://ft.com/content/2cb1baf7-66f9-492f-b63b-f1e59cc4826f))* * **Turkey's Central Bank (TCMB) April rate decision approaching; market survey raises year-end inflation forecast to 27.5%** — Turkey's Central Bank is scheduled to announce its April 22 policy rate decision, with economists overwhelmingly expecting rates to remain at 37%. The bank's April market participants survey revised year-end inflation expectations upward from 25.38% to 27.53%. The bank's total reserves rose \$9.27 billion to \$170.9 billion in the week ending April 10. 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He spoke with Ishaq Dar, Pakistan's foreign minister, for the third time in four days. He took a call from a South Korean special envoy on the conflict's economic impact. Then he flew to Antalya for the Diplomacy Forum, where he joined a four-way ministerial meeting with his Pakistani, Turkish, and Egyptian counterparts to build support for Pakistan's mediation push toward a permanent ceasefire. In between, he spoke with Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, on keeping shipping moving through the Strait of Hormuz. The kingdom is no longer a party managing its exposure to the war; it is building the diplomatic architecture around it. The \$8 billion financial package for Pakistan, announced the same week, is part of the same logic. Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince, met Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan's prime minister, in Jeddah on April 16, committing a \$3 billion deposit to the State Bank of Pakistan — described by Pakistani sources as the crown prince's personal gesture — plus an extension of an existing \$5 billion deposit. Pakistan faces an end-of-April UAE debt repayment deadline. Keeping Pakistan financially solvent preserves Riyadh's most active security partner and its main channel into the mediation effort. Yet even as it maintains direct ministerial contact with Tehran, Saudi Arabia this week opened a confrontational second track. A deputy foreign minister summoned Iraq's ambassador, Safia Taleb al-Suhail, and delivered a formal protest over drone attacks launched from Iraqi territory by Iran-aligned militias. Saudi Arabia warned it would "take all necessary measures to defend its security." This is the first publicly disclosed formal protest to Baghdad over this mode of attack since the conflict began — and it suggests the kingdom is now willing to pressure Iran's proxy hosts directly, not only engage Iran itself. The week's other major development was quieter but longer-lasting. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) board, chaired by the crown prince, ratified its 2026-2030 strategy, formalizing a domestic pivot that individual contract cancellations had been signalling for months. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the fund's governor, set an 80% domestic investment target and, speaking publicly about The Line for the first time, said: "Is it necessary to have it by 2030? I think no. It's good to have, but not a must-have." Sports investments were absent from the strategy release entirely. PIF is now making that absence concrete. Multiple sources confirmed it is preparing to end its funding of LIV Golf after the 2026 season; the tour lost \$590 million in its UK entity alone in 2024, and its chief executive acknowledged it is five to ten years from profitability. At the same time, PIF sold its 70% stake in Al Hilal to Kingdom Holding Company — the vehicle of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal — for roughly 1.4 billion Saudi riyals. The club stays in Saudi elite hands, but the sovereign fund is out. The prestige-investment logic that drove both LIV Golf and the original NEOM vision has been formally retired. What survives of NEOM is more modest and more useful. The Port of NEOM, part of the Oxagon industrial hub, declared a fully operational multimodal trade corridor this week: cargo moves from Italy's Trieste port by ship to Egypt's Damietta, overland to Safaga on the Red Sea, by ship to NEOM, then by road to Gulf destinations including the UAE, Kuwait, and Iraq. European importers from Italy, Britain, Germany, and Poland are already using it. The route bypasses the Strait of Hormuz entirely. The \$2 billion invested in Oxagon is producing measurable results during the conflict that made it necessary — which is more than can be said for the \$500 billion vision it replaced. * **Saudi sovereign fund reportedly ending LIV Golf funding and selling Al Hilal stake amid broader sports disinvestment** — Multiple reports emerged this week that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) plans to end its financial backing of LIV Golf after the 2026 season, with Fox News confirming the development via named sources. Simultaneously, PIF sold its 70% stake in Al Hilal football club to Kingdom Holding Company — the vehicle of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal — for roughly 1.4 billion Saudi riyals. Scott O'Neil, LIV Golf's chief executive, issued statements asserting the 2026 season would continue as planned but offered no clarity on post-2026 funding. Both moves are widely linked to PIF's new domestic-focused 2026–2030 strategy and the financial pressure of the Iran war. *([golfdigest.com](https://ft.com/content/76dfb7ee-ebf4-4030-8c8f-1c0c23ef5b67))* * **Saudi Arabia commits \$8 billion to Pakistan amid UAE debt deadline; Mohammed bin Salman meets Sharif in Jeddah** — Saudi Arabia announced a combined \$8 billion financial support package for Pakistan: a \$3 billion fresh deposit at the State Bank of Pakistan plus an extension of a \$5 billion existing deposit, authorized under directives from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The crown prince met Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan's prime minister, in Jeddah on April 16 to discuss the support, bilateral defense ties, and regional de-escalation; Mr Sharif had also met Al-Jadaan, the finance minister, in Islamabad days earlier. The support is linked to an end-of-April UAE debt repayment deadline facing Pakistan. * [Saudi to focus \$925 billion fund on domestic economy under new 5-year plan — reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/pif-board-approves-2026-2030-strategy-saudi-sovereign-wealth-fund-2026-04-15/) * [Saudi wealth fund resets priorities after decade of heavy spending — ft.com](https://www.ft.com/content/9fea256f-a60b-4d37-9ff0-c7c094cdda79) * [Saudi Arabia approves PIF's 2026-2030 strategy — english.alarabiya.net](https://english.alarabiya.net/News/saudi-arabia/2026/04/15/saudi-arabia-approves-pif-s-20262030-strategy-) * [PIF approves 2026–2030 strategy — saudigazette.com.sa](https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/660562) * [Saudi's PIF contributes one-third of non-oil GDP growth, amounting to \$242.66bln: Governor — zawya.com](https://www.zawya.com/en/business/investment/saudis-pif-contributes-one-third-of-non-oil-gdp-growth-amounting-to-24266bln-governor-x7d4ex98) * [PIF board approves 2026–2030 strategy chaired by crown prince — arabnews.com](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2640013/business-economy) * [Saudi Arabia: PIF plans SR3.4tn assets by 2025, outlines 2026-2030 strategy — madhyamamonline.com](https://madhyamamonline.com/middle-east/saudi-arabia/saudi-arabia-pif-plans-sr34tn-assets-by-2025-outlines-2026-2030-strategy-1511798) * [PIF 2026-2030 Strategy for Saudi Arabia — arabdreams.com](https://arabdreams.com/pif-2026-2030-strategy/) * [PIF Governor Reviews Fund's Progress and Outlines 2026–2030 Strategy — businesstoday.me](https://businesstoday.me/regional-roundup/pif-governor-reviews-funds-progress-and-outlines-2026-2030-strategy/) * [Saudi tourism stays central as PIF shifts focus to returns and efficiency — hoteliermiddleeast.com](https://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/news/saudi-tourism-stays-central-as-pif-shifts-focus-to-returns-and-efficiency) * [Qiddiya high-speed rail bidders get more time — meed.com](https://www.meed.com/qiddiya-high-speed-rail-bidders-get-more-time) * [ولي العهد يقر إستراتيجية صندوق الاستثمارات العامة 2026-2030 — akhbaar24.com](https://www.akhbaar24.com/اقتصاد/صندوق-الاستثمارات-العامة-يقر-استراتيجيته-2026-2030-113566) * [جريدة الرياض | برئاسة ولي العهد.. مجلس إدارة صندوق الاستثمارات العامة يُقرّ إستراتيجية الصندوق 2026 - 2030 — alriyadh.com](https://www.alriyadh.com/2183834) * [برئاسة ولي العهد.. مجلس إدارة صندوق الاستثمارات العامة يُقرّ إستراتيجية الصندوق 2026 - 2030 — aleqtsad.org](https://www.aleqtsad.org/برئاسة-ولي-العهد-مجلس-إدارة-صندوق-الاستثما/) * [لماذا خلت الإستراتيجية الجديدة لصندوق الاستثمارات العامة من أرقام لقياس الأثر؟ — nabd.com](https://nabd.com/s/171131723-4aab6b/...) * [برئاسة محمد بن سلمان... صندوق الاستثمارات العامة يقرّ استراتيجية 2026 - 2030 — aawsat.com](https://aawsat.com/الاقتصاد/5262602-برئاسة-محمد-بن-سلمان-صندوق-الاستثمارات-العامة-يقرّ-استراتيجية-2026-2030) * [صندوق الاستثمارات العامة السعودي يحدّث استراتيجيته حتى 2030 — aajae.co](https://aajae.co/economy/صندوق-الاستثمارات-العامة-السعودي-يحدّث-استراتيجيته-حتى-2030) * [صندوق الاستثمارات العامة يُطلق استراتيجية 2026-2030 بتركيز 80% على الاقتصاد الوطني — thesauditimes.net](https://thesauditimes.net/صندوق-الاستثمارات-العامة-يُطلق-استراتيجية/) * [تأثير استراتيجية صندوق الاستثمارات العامة على المستثمر والقطاع الخاص والسوق المالية — alphbeta.argaam.com](https://alphabeta.argaam.com/article/detail/111796/...) * [صندوق الاستثمارات العامة ورؤية 2030.. عقد من بناء الاقتصاد الجديد — mubasher.info](https://mubasher.info/news/4597334/...) * [أصول صندوق الاستثمارات العامة تبلغ 3.4 تريليونات ريال بنهاية 2025 — aleqtsad.org](https://www.aleqtsad.org/أصول-صندوق-الاستثمارات-العامة-تبلغ/) * [صندوق الاستثمارات العامة: مشاريع نيوم تأجلت لكنها لم تُلغَ — cnnbusinessarabic.com](https://cnnbusinessarabic.com/economic-stories/1138989/...) * [Saudi Arabia's New Strategy to Revolutionize Global Tourism: Neom, Private Investments, and Vision 2030 — travelandtourworld.com](https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/saudi-arabias-new-strategy-to-revolutionize-global-tourism-neom-private-investments-and-vision-2030-set-to-transform-the-kingdoms-future/) * [What PIF pulling funding for LIV Golf would mean for Newcastle United and its Saudi ownership — nytimes.com](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7202329/2026/04/16/pif-newcastle-united-liv/) * [Is Saudi Arabia scaling back sports spending? Why it invested over \$50 billion and what happens if it pulls back — firstpost.com](https://www.firstpost.com/sports/saudi-arabia-sports-investment-scale-back-impact-liv-golf-football-vision-2030-14001480.html) * [LIV Golf funding uncertainty sparks questions over PIF sports strategy — enterpriseam.com](https://enterpriseam.com/ksa/2026/04/19/liv-golf-funding-uncertainty-sparks-questions-over-pif-sports-strategy/) * [Del fútbol al cine, pasando por el Ibex: los grandes petroimperios tiemblan con la guerra — eleconomista.es](https://www.eleconomista.es/economia/noticias/13874804/04/26/del-futbol-al-cine-pasando-por-el-ibex-los-grandes-petroimperios-tiemblan-con-la-guerra-y-replantean-sus-inversiones-en-occidente.html) * [Pánico en el deporte mundial: Arabia Saudí lanza señales repentinas de que deja de invertir — abc.es](https://www.abc.es/deportes/deporte-tiembla-ante-senales-desinversion-arabia-saudi-20260417133537-nt.html) * [World Economic Forum selects Saudi leaders among 2026 Young Global Leaders — zawya.com](https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/people-in-the-news/world-economic-forum-selects-saudi-leaders-among-2026-young-global-leaders-dmdec8tm) * [Saudi Arabia Scraps Tourism Funding In Vision 2030 Shake-Up — skift.com](https://skift.com/2026/04/16/saudi-arabia-scraps-tourism-funding-in-vision-2030-shake-up) * [مجلس الوزراء يصدر 16 قراراً خلال اجتماعه برئاسة ولي العهد في جدة — mubasher.info](https://www.mubasher.info/news/4595065/...) * [سمو ولي العهد رئيس مجلس الوزراء يؤكد على الدور الحيوي للقطاع الخاص — menafn.com](https://menafn.com/arabic/1110974828/...) * [LIV Golf future in doubt as Saudi Arabia's PIF mulls ending funding — golfdigest.com](https://www.golfdigest.com/story/liv-golf-future-saudi-arabia-2026) * [Saudi Arabia's PIF on verge of cutting support for LIV Golf — ft.com](https://ft.com/content/76dfb7ee-ebf4-4030-8c8f-1c0c23ef5b67) * [LIV Golf's future in question as Saudi Arabian backers consider pulling funding: Sources — nytimes.com](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7197088/2026/04/15/liv-golf-future-in-question/) * [Is LIV Golf shutting down? Everything we know as funding 'set to be pulled' — independent.co.uk](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf/liv-golf-news-announcement-pif-saudi-arabia-b2958729.html) * [LIV Golf CEO refutes reports of financial instability, says league funded through the year — golfchannel.com](https://www.golfchannel.com/news/news/report-saudi-arabia-pif-on-the-verge-of-cutting-financial-support-for-liv-golf) * [LIV Golf CEO asserts league has money for rest of season, but says that's 'not the way the world works' in regard to future funding — golfdigest.com](https://www.golfdigest.com/story/liv-golf-ceo-statement-funding-future-2026) * [LIV Golf will NOT be funded by Saudi PIF past 2026 season, confirms bombshell report — golfmagic.com](https://www.golfmagic.com/tour/liv-golf/confirmed-saudi-pif-will-no-longer-fund-liv-golf-beyond-2026-season) * [Saudi Arabia's PIF sells majority stake in Al Hilal — espn.com](https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48504792/saudi-public-investment-fund-sells-stake-al-hilal) * [Al Hilal sold by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to Kingdom Holding Company — nytimes.com](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7201654/2026/04/16/al-hilal-saudi-arabia-pif-sale/) * [Saudi sovereign wealth fund sells 70% stake in Al-Hilal soccer club — ctinsider.com](https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/article/saudi-sovereign-wealth-fund-sells-70-stake-in-22212155.php) * [Saudi wealth fund sells football club Al-Hilal — myleaderpaper.com](https://www.myleaderpaper.com/news/national/saudi-wealth-fund-sells-football-club-al-hilal/article_592f82d4-5828-51f8-894d-048aefb90e31.html) * [Al Hilal Sold by PIF: Who is the New Owner, Alwaleed bin Talal — pallonateinfaccia.substack.com](https://pallonateinfaccia.substack.com/p/al-hilal-new-owner-alwaleed-bin-talal) * [Despite LIV Golf CEO's assurance, Saudi Arabia sells Al Hilal stake as sporting disinvestment trend emerges — firstpost.com](https://www.firstpost.com/sports/football-news/saudi-arabia-sporting-disinvestment-al-hilal-sale-14001394.html) * [What Saudi PIF Pullbacks From LIV Golf, Al-Hilal Could Mean for Economy — businessinsider.com](https://businessinsider.com/saudi-pif-pullbacks-liv-golf-al-hilal-economic-industry-impact-2026-4) * [LIV Golf's Future: Three Big Questions If Saudi Funding Dries Up — frontofficesports.com](https://frontofficesports.com/liv-golfs-future-three-big-questions-if-saudi-funding-pif/) * [LIV Golf Moves On to Trump D.C. Event After Rocky Week — frontofficesports.com](https://frontofficesports.com/liv-golf-moves-on-to-trump-d-c-event-after-rocky-week-in-mexico/) * [LIV Golf: What's happening with the PIF's involvement and its other investments? — the-independent.com](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/golf/liv-golf-press-association-newcastle-middle-east-iran-b2959748.html) * [LIV Golf's telecast opens by scolding media, then quickly is hit with lengthy technical issues — golfdigest.com](https://www.golfdigest.com/story/liv-golf-2026-telecast-opens-by-scolding-media-then-quickly-hit-with-lengthy-technical-isssues) * [LIV Golf Announces Returning Event Despite Uncertainty Around League's Future — golfmonthly.com](https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/liv-mexico-return-uncertainty-saudi-pif-funding) * [Saudi-controlled Newcastle plunges in Premier League as Howe struggles for answers — lmtonline.com](https://www.lmtonline.com/sports/article/saudi-controlled-newcastle-plunges-in-premier-22213710.php) * [The \$6B golf bet that crashed and burned: What really happened with LIV's short-lived disaster — sports.yahoo.com](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/6b-golf-bet-crashed-burned-120000687.html) * [LIV, NBA Europe: Has the Iran War Curbed Middle East Sports Spending? — sportico.com](https://sportico.com/business/finance/2026/iran-war-middle-east-sovereign-sports-investment-liv-golf-1234890297) * [Insider Shares Crucial Details About PIF-LIV Golf Funding Crisis No One Saw Coming — essentiallysports.com](https://www.essentiallysports.com/golf-news-insider-shares-crucial-details-about-pif-liv-golf-funding-crisis-no-one-saw-coming/) * [Saudi Arabia revives cricket 'Grand Slam' talks as \$5bn LIV Golf bet fails to yield profit — firstpost.com](https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/saudi-arabia-cricket-grand-revive-slam-liv-golf-14001775.html) * [Explained: What Is Saudi Cricket Grand Slam Format and Why Talks Have Reopened — mykhel.com](https://www.mykhel.com/cricket/explained-what-is-saudi-cricket-grand-slam-format-and-why-talks-have-reopened-426591.html) * [LIV Golf is scrambling amid Saudi funding questions. Will the kingdom's stake in other sports last? — nytimes.com](https://nytimes.com/athletic/7202925/2026/04/17/saudi-arabia-sports-investment-liv-golf) * [Report: Fanatics Flag Football Event Could Be At Risk, Too — thespun.com](https://thespun.com/nfl/report-fanatics-flag-football-event-could-be-at-risk-too) * [Bryson DeChambeau pulls out of chaotic LIV Golf event after hitting out at course conditions — themirror.com](https://www.themirror.com/sport/golf/bryson-dechambeau-liv-golf-withdrawal-1797590) * [Saudi Arabia isporting disinvestment overview (Aol) — aol.com](https://www.aol.com/articles/saudi-pif-sell-al-hilal-154538826.html) * [The \$6B golf bet crashed (Aol) — aol.com](https://www.aol.com/articles/6b-golf-bet-crashed-burned-120000383.html) * [El LIV Golf se llena de optimismo y anuncia torneo en México para 2027 — marca.com](https://www.marca.com/golf/liv-golf/2026/04/19/liv-golf-llena-optimismo-anuncia-torneo-mexico-2027.html) * [Rahm suma su cuarta victoria en el LIV — as.com](https://as.com/masdeporte/jon-rahm-es-la-orquesta-del-titanic-f202604-n/) * [Jon Rahm takes six-shot victory in Mexico as LIV Golf insists it will continue — skysports.com](https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/12176/13533810/jon-rahm-takes-six-shot-victory-in-mexico-as-liv-golf-insists-it-will-continue-amid-speculation-about-financial-future) * [Bryson DeChambeau withdraws from LIV Golf Mexico City ahead of final round — skysports.com](https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/12176/13533843/liv-golf-league-bryson-dechambeau-withdraws-from-liv-golf-mexico-city-ahead-of-final-round-due-to-wrist-injury) * [Pánico en el deporte mundial: Arabia Saudí lanza señales repentinas de que deja de invertir — abc.es](https://www.abc.es/deportes/deporte-tiembla-ante-senales-desinversion-arabia-saudi-20260417133537-nt.html) * [Saudi Arabia Scraps Tourism Funding In Vision 2030 Shake-Up — skift.com](https://skift.com/2026/04/16/saudi-arabia-scraps-tourism-funding-in-vision-2030-shake-up) * [Saudi wealth fund resets priorities after decade of heavy spending (FT - sports angle) — ft.com](https://www.ft.com/content/9fea256f-a60b-4d37-9ff0-c7c094cdda79) * [Saudi Arabia's Most Valuable Brand Takes The Spotlight: Aramco (sports investing context) — seekingalpha.com](https://seekingalpha.com/article/4890692-saudi-arabia-most-valuable-brand-takes-the-spotlight-aramco) * [Al Nassr aims to pair Mohamed Salah with Cristiano Ronaldo — marca.com](https://www.marca.com/en/football/2026/04/19/69e51670e2704e61028b458d.html) * [Al Nassr pretende juntar a Mohamed Salah con Cristiano Ronaldo — us.marca.com](https://us.marca.com/soccer/2026/04/19/69e5169c268e3e25148b45ac.html) * [PIF's al-Rumayyan says no NEOM projects cancelled, spending priorities reassessed — english.alarabiya.net](https://english.alarabiya.net/News/saudi-arabia/2026/04/15/pif-s-alrumayyan-says-no-neom-projects-cancelled-spending-priorities-reassessed) * [Saudi PIF Governor Says No NEOM Projects 'Canceled' — english.alarabiya.net](https://english.alarabiya.net/webtv/media/2026/04/15/saudi-pif-governor-says-no-neom-projects-canceled-) * [No NEOM projects cancelled but delays expected, PIF governor says — arabianbusiness.com](https://www.arabianbusiness.com/finance/economy/no-neom-projects-cancelled-but-delays-expected-pif-governor-says) * [PIF has not cancelled any project in NEOM, says Al-Rumayyan — zawya.com](https://www.zawya.com/projects/construction/pif-has-not-cancelled-any-project-in-neom-says-al-rumayyan-b3e1umow) * [Some Neom projects have been delayed, not cancelled, says Saudi PIF chief — khaleejtimes.com](https://khaleejtimes.com/world/gulf/some-neom-projects-has-been-delayed-not-cancelled-says-saudi-pif-chief) * [Saudi gigaprojects: Why is NEOM prioritising Oxagon over The Line right now? — constructionweekonline.com](https://www.constructionweekonline.com/analysis/why-is-neom-prioritising-oxagon) * [PIF governor: No projects cancelled in NEOM — saudigazette.com.sa](https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/660565/saudi-arabia/pif-governor-says-no-projects-cancelled-in-neom-spending-reviewed) * [How Saudi Arabia is repositioning Neom as key logistics hub and economic anchor — thenationalnews.com](https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/2026/04/17/how-saudi-arabia-is-repositioning-neom-as-key-logistics-hub-and-economic-anchor/) * [Port of NEOM fully operational, handling global cargo flows — saudigazette.com.sa](https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/660663) * [Port of NEOM and Partners Enable European Multimodal Land Bridge — neom.com](https://www.neom.com/en-us/newsroom/Port-of-NEOM-and-Partners-Enable-European-Multimodal-Land-Bridge-Advancing-Regional-Cargo-Connectivity) * [Unchartered waters: how legacy ports and smart hubs can evolve together — neom.com](https://neom.com/en-us/newsroom/Unchartered-Waters-How-Legacy-Ports-and-Smart-Hubs-Can-Evolve-Together) * [Neom port relieves Middle East congestion pressures — gasworld.com](https://www.gasworld.com/story/neom-port-relieves-middle-east-congestion-pressures/2246794.article/) * [Saudi Arabia's NEOM opens new trade route bypassing Strait of Hormuz — cryptobriefing.com](https://cryptobriefing.com/saudi-arabias-neom-opens-new-trade-route-bypassing-strait-of-hormuz/) * [Hormuz No Longer Default? Gulf Trade Eyes NEOM Route Amid Iran War — timesnownews.com](https://timesnownews.com/world/middle-east/hormuz-no-longer-default-gulf-trade-eyes-neom-route-amid-iran-war-article-154091020) * [Strait of Hormuz Alternative: How the NEOM Route is Reshaping Gulf Trade Amid Iran War — breezyscroll.com](https://www.breezyscroll.com/breezy-explainer/strait-of-hormuz-alternative-neom-route) * [Public Investment Fund backs Neom — meed.com](https://meed.com/pif-backs-neom) * [PIF Gives NEOM Independent Ecosystem Status In Five-Year Strategy — mepmiddleeast.com](https://www.mepmiddleeast.com/news/pif-neom-independent-ecosystem-status) * [PIF NEOM restructuring — utilities-me.com](https://www.utilities-me.com/news/pif-neom-restructuring) * [Futuristic desert city: Saudi investment official says Neom projects delayed, not cancelled — 24newshd.tv](https://www.24newshd.tv/15-Apr-2026/futuristic-desert-city-saudi-investment-official-says-neom-projects-delayed-cancelled) * [PIF Backs NEOM Saudi Giga-Project: Strategy Shift in Megaproject Plan — emilecon.com](https://www.emilecon.com/post/neom-backed-by-pif-as-saudi-megaproject-strategy-recalibrates) * [El puerto de Neom impulsa nuevo corredor logístico en el Golfo con Fujairah como punto clave — elcorreo.ae](https://www.elcorreo.ae/articulo/economia/puerto-neom-impulsa-nuevo-corredor-logistico-estrategico-golfo-fujairah-como-punto-clave/20260418094241174507.html) * [El sueño húmedo de Mohamed bin Salmán: un 'canal de Suez' en Omán para anular Ormuz — elespanol.com](https://www.elespanol.com/reportajes/20260418/sueno-humedo-mohamed-bin-salman-canal-suez-oman-traves-km-desierto-anular-ormuz/1003744208468_0.html) * [Iran says US negotiations progressing but 'far from final deal' (mentions NEOM port) — gulfnews.com](https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/us-iran-ceasefire-trump-ghalibaf-see-progress-in-talks-but-major-gaps-remain-1.500511759) * [NEOM The Line: A Complete Guide to the 170km Linear City in the Desert — learnarchitecture.net](https://learnarchitecture.net/articles/32570-neom-the-line-a-complete-guide-to-the-170km-linear-city-in-the-desert.html) * [NEOM's THE LINE Pioneers Vertical, Zero-Carbon Urban Living — news.sustainability-directory.com](https://news.sustainability-directory.com/urbanism/neoms-the-line-pioneers-vertical-zero-carbon-urban-living/) * [Home is the NEOM hero: Niall Gibbons returns to Ireland — travelextra.ie](https://www.travelextra.ie/home-is-the-hero-niall-gibbons-returns-to-ireland/) * [صندوق الاستثمارات العامة: مشاريع نيوم تأجلت لكنها لم تُلغَ (CNN Arabic) — cnnbusinessarabic.com](https://cnnbusinessarabic.com/economic-stories/1138989/...) * [Saudi Arabia's New Strategy to Revolutionize Global Tourism: Neom — travelandtourworld.com](https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/saudi-arabias-new-strategy-to-revolutionize-global-tourism-neom-private-investments-and-vision-2030-set-to-transform-the-kingdoms-future/) * [Saudi FM Discusses US-Iran Talks in Call with Iranian Counterpart — english.aawsat.com](https://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5261817-saudi-fm-discusses-us-iran-talks-call-iranian-counterpart) * [Saudi foreign minister discusses US-Iran talks in call with Iranian counterpart — arabnews.com](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2639759/saudi-arabia) * [Saudi Arabia Holds 9 Rounds of Regional Political Consultations in 48 Hours — english.aawsat.com](https://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5262371-saudi-arabia-holds-9-rounds-regional-political-cosultations-48-hours) * [Abdullah bin Zayed receives phone call from Saudi Foreign Minister — mofa.gov.ae](https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/MediaHub/News/2026/4/14/UAE-Saudi-Foreign-Minister) * [Abdullah bin Zayed receives phone call from Saudi Foreign Minister (duplicate entry) — mofa.gov.ae](https://mofa.gov.ae/en/MediaHub/News/2026/4/14/UAE-Saudi-Foreign-Minister) * [Saudi Foreign Minister Discusses Regional Developments with Jordanian, Pakistani Counterparts — english.aawsat.com](https://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5261676-saudi-foreign-minister-discusses-regional-developments-jordanian-pakistani) * [Saudi FM discusses Mideast issues with regional counterparts — arabnews.com](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2639785/saudi-arabia) * [FM discusses regional developments with Saudi, Iraqi counterparts, IAEA Chief — cloudflare.egyptindependent.com](https://cloudflare.egyptindependent.com/fm-discusses-regional-developments-with-saudi-iraqi-counterparts-iaea-chief/) * [Egypt's FM held phone calls with Saudi FM, Iraqi FM, IAEA — egyptian-gazette.com](https://egyptian-gazette.com/late-night-roundup/hezbollah-chief-urges-lebanese-government-to-cancel-washington-talks-with-israel-2/) * [Saudi, Russian foreign ministers discuss regional developments — arabnews.pk](https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2640051/saudi-arabia) * [Prince Faisal, Rubio Discuss Continued Flow of Shipping Through Strait of Hormuz — english.aawsat.com](https://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5263722-prince-faisal-rubio-discuss-continued-flow-shipping-through-strait-hormuz) * [Saudi FM discusses regional crises with US Secretary of State Rubio — arabnews.pk](https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2640285/saudi-arabia) * [Saudi FM discusses regional crises with US Secretary of State Rubio (duplicate) — arabnews.pk](https://arabnews.pk/node/2640285/saudi-arabia) * [Marco Rubio, Saudi Foreign Minister discuss Lebanon ceasefire, Strait of Hormuz situation — tribuneindia.com](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/marco-rubio-saudi-foreign-minister-discuss-lebanon-ceasefire-strait-of-hormuz-situation/) * [US Iran news highlights: Saudi FM Faisal and US Rubio discussed Hormuz — hindustantimes.com](https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-iran-talks-war-news-donald-trump-live-updates-strait-of-hormuz-israel-lebanon-ceasefire-latest-news-april-17-101776387037477.html) * [Iran issues warning to US as Strait of Hormuz 'reopens' (mentions Faisal-Rubio call) — irishtimes.com](https://www.irishtimes.com/world/middle-east/2026/04/17/iran-war-trump-israel-lebanon-energy-fuel/) * [Iran-Israel-US war updates (mentions Faisal-Rubio call) — news9live.com](https://www.news9live.com/world/iran-israel-us-war-live-updates-lebanon-ceasefire-strait-of-hormuz-donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu-mojtaba-khamenei-hezbollah-2958999) * [US-Iran War Highlights: Ship traffic resumes in Strait of Hormuz (mentions Faisal-Rubio) — cnbctv18.com](https://www.cnbctv18.com/world/iran-us-israel-war-live-news-updates-donald-trump-lebanon-hezbollah-ceasefire-drone-missile-attacks-peace-talks-pakistan-mediation-oil-crisis-west-asia-liveblog-ws-l-19888311.htm) * [Saudi FM Participates in Quadrilateral Ministerial Meeting in Antalya — english.aawsat.com](https://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5263782-saudi-fm-participates-quadrilateral-ministerial-meeting-antalya) * [Saudi, Regional Ministers Convene as Momentum Builds for Middle East Peace Deal — millichronicle.com](https://www.millichronicle.com/2026/04/65449.html) * [Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt FMs meet in Antalya — economictimes.indiatimes.com](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/pakistan-saudi-arabia-turkey-egypt-fms-meet-in-antalya/articleshow/130349925.cms) * [Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt: Strengthening Ties And Cooperation — rediff.com](https://www.rediff.com/news/report/pakistan-saudi-arabia-turkiye-egypt-meeting-in-antalya/20260418.htm) * [Muslim states meet on sidelines of Turkey conference to discuss Gaza — jns.org](https://www.jns.org/news/israel-news/muslim-states-meet-on-sidelines-of-turkey-conference-to-discuss-gaza) * [Saudi, Algerian FMs Discuss Regional Developments — english.aawsat.com](https://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5263928-saudi-algerian-fms-discuss-regional-developments) * [Saudi FM joins Gaza ministerial talks at Antalya Diplomacy Forum — saudigazette.com.sa](https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/660654/saudi-arabia/saudi-fm-joins-gaza-ministerial-talks-at-antalya-diplomacy-forum) * [Saudi, Iran foreign ministers discuss latest developments post Iran-US Islamabad talks — english.alarabiya.net](https://english.alarabiya.net/News/saudi-arabia/2026/04/13/saudi-iran-foreign-ministers-discuss-latest-developments-post-iranus-islamabad-talks-) * [In Iran war, a common enemy hasn't brought Gulf Arabs closer to Israel — csmonitor.com](https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2026/0413/iran-war-gulf-distrust-israeli-hegemony) * [Saudi Arabia Lends Support to Diplomacy, Regional Stability — islamtimes.com](https://www.islamtimes.com/en/news/1274729/saudi-arabia-lends-support-to-diplomacy-regional-stability) * [Saudi Arabia Leads Neither Track for Its Most Vital Strait — houseofsaud.com](https://houseofsaud.com/hormuz-conference-saudi-hinge/) * [Fact check: Viral video does not show Saudi FM announcing end of reliance on US — tribune.com.pk](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2602900/fact-check-viral-video-does-not-show-saudi-fm-announcing-end-of-reliance-on-us-amid-mideast-tension) * [Fact Check: Does the video show a Saudi minister announcing the end of reliance on US? — news.meaww.com](https://news.meaww.com/fact-check-does-the-video-show-a-saudi-minister-announcing-the-end-of-reliance-on-us) * [Última hora en Oriente Próximo (mentions Faisal-Rubio call) — cadenaser.com](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2026/04/17/ultima-hora-en-oriente-proximo-en-directo-la-tregua-en-el-libano-se-tambalea-por-varias-violaciones-de-israel-cadena-ser/) * [Las condiciones de Trump a Irán tras la apertura de Ormuz (mentions Faisal) — latercera.com](https://www.latercera.com/mundo/noticia/las-condiciones-de-trump-a-iran-tras-la-apertura-de-ormuz-y-la-nueva-amenaza-que-enfrenta-israel/) * [Trump amenaza con destruir cualquier barco iraní (mentions Faisal-Araghchi call) — listindiario.com](https://listindiario.com/las-mundiales/20260413/trump-amenaza-destruir-barco-irani-cruce-ormuz_901704.html) * [US says ball in Iran's court (mentions Faisal-Araghchi call) — rte.ie](https://www.rte.ie/news/middle-east/2026/0414/1568091-middle-east/) * [Trump Warns US Will Sink Iran Boats Challenging Naval Blockade (mentions Faisal call) — gulfnews.com](https://gulfnews.com/world/americas/trump-warns-us-will-sink-any-iran-boats-that-challenge-blockade-1.500505100) * [The Latest: US-Vatican feud erupts over Iran (mentions Faisal-Araghchi call) — thehour.com](https://www.thehour.com/news/article/the-latest-ship-traffic-appears-to-halt-in-22203129.php) * [Trump vows US will sink any boats that challenge blockade (mentions Faisal-Araghchi) — manilatimes.net](https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/04/15/news/national/trump-vows-us-will-sink-any-boats-that-challenge-blockade/2320052) * [Saudi Arabia backstops Pakistan with \$3 billion as UAE debt looms — reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/pakistan-says-saudi-arabia-pledges-3-billion-more-support-it-2026-04-15/) * [MBS's personal gesture for Pakistan: commits \$3bn deposit — thenews.pk](https://www.thenews.pk/print/1410044-mbs-s-personal-gesture-for-pakistan-commits-3bn-deposit) * [Saudi Arabia Extends \$5 Billion Aid, Adds \$3 Billion More To Support Pakistan Economy — news18.com](https://www.news18.com/world/saudi-arabia-extends-5-billion-aid-adds-3-billion-more-to-support-pakistan-economy-ws-l-10037587.html) * [Saudi Arabia Bolsters Pakistan's Economic Stability with Deposit at Central Bank — english.aawsat.com](https://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5263087-saudi-arabia-bolsters-pakistans-economic-stability-deposit-central-bank) * [Saudi Arabia Strengthens Pakistan's Economic Stability with Central Bank Deposit — businesstoday.me](https://businesstoday.me/regional-roundup/saudi-arabia-strengthens-pakistans-economic-stability-with-central-bank-deposit/) * [Saudi Arabia announces \$8 billion in financial support for Pakistan — saudigazette.com.sa](https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/660600/saudi-arabia/saudi-arabia-announces-8-billion-in-financial-support-for-pakistan) * [Saudi Arabia unveils \$3bn financial support package for Pakistan — suchtv.pk](https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/135982-saudi-arabia-unveils-3bn-financial-support-package-for-pakistan.html) * [FPCCI commends SA's \$3 billion fresh deposit, extension of \$5 billion existing facility — nation.com.pk](https://www.nation.com.pk/16-Apr-2026/fpcci-commends-sa-s-dollar-3-billion-fresh-deposit-extension-dollar-5-billion-existing-facility) * [Saudi Arabia Delivers Historic \$8 Billion Lifeline Package to Strengthen Pakistan Economy — timesofislamabad.com](https://timesofislamabad.com/16-04-2026/saudi-arabia-delivers-historic-8-billion-lifeline-package-to-strengthen-pakistan-economy/) * [Saudi Arabia to lend another \$3 bn to Pakistan to boost forex reserves — theprint.in](https://theprint.in/diplomacy/saudi-arabia-to-lend-another-3-bn-to-pakistan-to-boost-forex-reserves-days-after-5-bn-pledge/2905390/) * [Saudi crown prince, Pakistan PM discuss regional developments in Jeddah — sana.sy](https://sana.sy/en/international/2310766) * [Saudi crown prince, Pakistan PM discuss US-Iran mediation, regional stability — arabnews.com](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2640000/saudi-arabia) * [Saudi crown prince receives Pakistan PM on first leg of diplomatic tour — arabnews.pk](https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2640000/saudi) *** ### United Arab Emirates flag United Arab Emirates The ceasefire that ended Iran's 40-day bombardment has been holding for two weeks, and Abu Dhabi is already doing two contradictory things at once: calling Iran its "main enemy" while opening a direct line to Tehran. The scale of what the country absorbed is only now becoming clear. Long War Journal's independent analysis confirmed that the UAE took 2,256 drones and 563 missiles over the campaign — more than double the combined total aimed at Kuwait, and nearly ten times what Qatar faced. Anwar Gargash, a presidential adviser, converted those numbers into a victory narrative: Iran had "assumed the UAE was an exposed target," he said, but the country "responded with competence and excellence," intercepting 96% of incoming systems. Schools have reopened — the clearest sign that life has returned to normal. Yet even as Gargash demanded written assurances against further attacks and "appropriate compensation" from Iran, Mansour bin Zayed, the vice president and deputy prime minister, called Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the Iranian parliament speaker, to discuss regional de-escalation. It was the first confirmed senior UAE-Iran contact since Abu Dhabi closed its Tehran embassy in March. That Mansour bin Zayed — who has longstanding commercial ties to Iran through Dubai — was chosen for this call rather than the foreign minister or the president appears deliberate: engagement without full commitment. Iran set its own opening terms the same week: Tehran's UN representative stated that Iran was seeking compensation from the UAE and other regional states for their role in what it called the American and Israeli war against Iran — directly inverting Abu Dhabi's own demands and leaving both sides at maximum positions before any talks begin. The Mansour-Qalibaf call ran alongside what may be the most intense week of diplomacy the UAE has conducted. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Abu Dhabi's crown prince, travelled to Beijing and signed 24 agreements covering hydrogen, energy storage, and electric vehicles. Xi Jinping presented a four-point peace proposal for the Middle East emphasising sovereignty and non-interference — language that aligns with the UAE's framing of Iranian attacks as sovereignty violations without naming Iran as aggressor. The delegation included Sultan Al Jaber, the chief executive of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), alongside the investment and trade ministers, marking this as real economic diplomacy rather than ceremony. Yvette Cooper, the UK foreign secretary, flew to Abu Dhabi to meet Abdullah bin Zayed, the UAE's foreign minister, reaffirming British solidarity and endorsing measures to protect UAE sovereignty. In Washington, Reem Al Hashimy, the minister of state, declared that the UAE-US partnership was "only getting stronger" and cited a \$1.4 trillion UAE commitment to invest in the American economy over ten years, on top of a trillion already deployed. The juxtaposition was deliberate: Abu Dhabi deepened its China partnership with 24 agreements and reinforced its American one with a financial commitment of historic scale — in the same week. Beneath the diplomacy, the defence picture is more complicated than the victory narrative suggests. The air defences held, backed by American Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) and Patriot batteries and French Rafale intercepts. According to one French intelligence newsletter — a finding not yet independently confirmed — the homegrown systems of EDGE Group, the state defence conglomerate ranked among the world's top 25 arms manufacturers, were absent. Drone threats exposed gaps that existing defences could not fill. If the finding holds, it would suggest the UAE remains dependent on foreign systems for actual combat, whatever its ambitions for a domestic arms industry. Hormuz remains the unfinished business. Despite the ceasefire holding since April 8, only a single tanker cleared the strait this week — a Pakistan-flagged vessel carrying roughly 450,000 barrels of UAE crude, bound for Karachi. Its passage likely reflects a specific arrangement under the Pakistan-mediated ceasefire rather than a general reopening. The Fujairah bypass route, the UAE's sole Indian Ocean-facing outlet, was never able to fully substitute for Hormuz. Mohammed bin Zayed, the UAE president, inspected Fujairah port in person this week — a signal that the leadership's attention remains fixed on that route while the main strait stays closed. The UAE has also spent the week building an international legal record of the conflict. The International Maritime Organization's Legal Committee, at its 113th session, adopted a UAE-tabled decision condemning Iran's Hormuz closure, attacks on vessels, mine threats, and the toll system Iran imposed on passing ships. It was the third such action in four weeks. Whatever the ceasefire ultimately delivers, Abu Dhabi intends to ensure the international legal record reflects what happened in the strait. * **Iran-US War and Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Global Coverage of Blockade, Ceasefire Talks, and Shipping Disruption** — Extensive international news coverage tracked the ongoing US naval blockade of Iranian ports, repeated openings and closures of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, US-Iran ceasefire talks mediated through Pakistan, the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire announced by Trump, and the first Pakistani tanker exiting the strait carrying UAE-loaded crude. Coverage spanned live blogs across major international outlets and regional news agencies from April 13 to April 19. *([nbcnews.com](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/live-blog/live-updates-us-blockade-iran-ports-trump-hormuz-peace-talks-ceasefire-rcna331473))* * **Mohammed bin Zayed and Senior UAE Leaders Conduct Intensive Diplomatic Meetings amid Iran War** — Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE president, held bilateral meetings with Bahrain's King Hamad, India's external affairs minister Jaishankar, the president of the European Council António Costa, the ruler of Ajman, and the ruler of Fujairah — all centred on regional developments from the Iran conflict. UAE Vice President Mansour bin Zayed called Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the Iranian parliament speaker, on de-escalation, received Uzbekistan's deputy prime minister, and witnessed the UAE-Jordan railway deal. Mohammed bin Zayed also issued a federal decree granting a diplomatic rank and received new ambassadors. *([businesstoday.me](https://thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/04/13/president-sheikh-mohamed-discusses-iran-war-with-king-of-bahrain))* * **Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Official Visit to China: Xi Presents Four-Point West Asia Peace Proposal** — Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan made an official visit to Beijing, meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping — who outlined a four-point proposal for peace and stability in West Asia — as well as Premier Li Qiang. The visit included Sultan Al Jaber of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in the UAE delegation and resulted in the signing of 24 agreements covering hydrogen, energy storage, electric vehicles, and other sectors. *([theprint.in](https://theprint.in/world/xi-meets-uae-crown-prince-mbz-in-beijing-pitches-4-point-proposal-for-stability-in-west-asia/2904698/))* * **ADNOC Chief Executive Calls Hormuz Payments 'Protection Racket,' Demands Strait Reopening** — Sultan Al Jaber, chief executive of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and UAE industry minister, said the Strait of Hormuz closure by Iran constituted "economic terrorism" and a "protection racket," warning that the global economy could not absorb further uncertainty. He cited 50 days of closure blocking nearly 600 million barrels of oil and increasing pressure on liquefied natural gas (LNG), aviation fuel, and fertilisers. The company's XRG arm separately stated its investment strategy was unaffected by regional volatility. * [Iran's war against regional states: UAE bore the brunt, Iraqi Kurdistan still under fire — longwarjournal.org](https://longwarjournal.org/archives/2026/04/irans-war-against-regional-states-uae-bore-the-brunt-iraqi-kurdistan-still-under-fire.php) * [Not Neutral: Inside The UAE's Shadow Role In the US-Israeli War on Iran — mintpressnews.com](https://www.mintpressnews.com/not-neutral-inside-the-uaes-shadow-role-in-the-us-israeli-war-on-iran/290870/) * ['Yes, the UAE won': President's advisor details how nation dealt with Iranian aggression — khaleejtimes.com](https://khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-president-advisor-gargash-iran-attacks) * [UAE must have assurances Iran attacks won't be repeated, Gargash says — thenationalnews.com](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/04/17/uae-must-have-assurances-iran-attacks-wont-be-repeated-gargash-says/) * [UAE schools to return to in-person learning on Monday — thenationalnews.com](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/04/15/uae-schools-remote-learning/) * [War broke the Gulf states' security umbrella. Now, the UAE fears stormy weather ahead — theglobeandmail.com](https://theglobeandmail.com/world/article-war-gulf-states-security-umbrella-uae) * [War will drain the Gulf's \$6trn treasure chest — hindustantimes.com](https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/war-will-drain-the-gulf-s-6trn-treasure-chest-101776310613551.html) * [UAE • UAE strikes Iran, but homegrown weapons nowhere to be seen — intelligenceonline.com](https://intelligenceonline.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/04/16/uae-strikes-iran-but-homegrown-weapons-nowhere-to-be-seen,110705006-art) * [Bahrain Demands Full Compensation from Iran Over 'Unlawful Aggression' — newsofbahrain.com](https://www.newsofbahrain.com/bahrain/130963.html) * [UAE strongly condemns targeting of UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon — radioshoma934.ae](https://www.radioshoma934.ae/news/local-news/uae-strongly-condemns-targeting-of-unifil-forces-in-southern-lebanon/) * [UAE to build military rescue training center with international partners — defensehere.com](https://defensehere.com/en/uae-to-build-military-rescue-training-center-with-international-partners) * [Sukoon Announces 55% Discount On Car Insurance For UAE Army, Police And Firefighters — blog.uaetoday.com](https://blog.uaetoday.com/sukoon-announces-55-discount-on-car-insurance-for-uae-army-police-and-firefighers/) * [Strait of Hormuz closure economic terrorism… is impacting India too: UAE minister — indianexpress.com](https://indianexpress.com/article/india/strait-of-hormuz-closure-economic-terrorism-is-impacting-india-too-uae-minister-10644142/) * [Day 49 of Middle East conflict — Iran declares Strait of Hormuz open — edition.cnn.com](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/17/world/live-news/iran-war-trump-lebanon-israel-ceasefire) * [U.S. blockade of Iran's ports goes into effect; Trump says he doesn't care about new talks — nbcnews.com](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/live-blog/live-updates-us-blockade-iran-ports-trump-hormuz-peace-talks-ceasefire-rcna331473) * [Iran threatens shipping in Gulf, Red Sea; Trump's Strait of Hormuz blockade continues — nbcnews.com](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/live-blog/live-updates-us-blockade-iran-hormuz-trump-peace-talks-rcna331890) * [U.S. military turns back ships amid hope for new peace talks — nbcnews.com](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/live-blog/live-updates-trump-blockade-iran-war-hormuz-israel-lebanon-talks-rcna331668) * [Live Updates: Trump announces Israel-Lebanon ceasefire as US enforces blockade on Iranian ports — foxnews.com](https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/trump-us-iran-war-strait-hormuz-blockade-israel-oil-prices-april-16) * [Live Updates: Strait of Hormuz is 'fully open,' Trump says, following Iran's announcement — foxnews.com](https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/trump-iran-us-war-israel-lebanon-ceasefire-strait-hormuz-blockade-april-17) * [Iran war live updates: US delegation led by Vance to go to Pakistan for Iran peace talks, says Trump — abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-20/iran-war-live-updates-blockade-hormuz-us-negotiations/106581706) * [Trump says war is 'very close to over' as mediators push ceasefire extension — abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-15/iran-war-live-updates-blockade-hormuz-us-middle-east/106563560) * [Trump announces new round of Iran talks as uncertainty hangs over strait — abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-19/iran-war-live-updates-blockade-hormuz-us-middle-east/106580252) * [Trump denies being 'under pressure' to make Iran deal ahead of Wednesday ceasefire deadline — bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cly90l3ln30t) * [Iran says it will retaliate for US seizure of cargo ship as Tehran yet to confirm peace talks in Pakistan — bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cly90l3ln30t?post=asset%3A1b69ea79-3527-4d15-b4d6-22aba3bc2c87) * [Iran war latest: US Navy intercepts and seizes Iranian-flagged cargo ship, Trump says — bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cly90l3ln30t?post=asset%3Af2a3d07a-ed7b-4823-9369-38c6cd94bcb0) * [Iran-Israel war updates: No plan for Tehran to attend new talks with U.S. in Pakistan, says Iranian media — thehindu.com](https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-israel-war-on-iran-live-updates-strait-of-hormuz-blockade-april-19-2026/article70879933.ece) * [Iran-Israel war highlights: Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz; Trump says will bring Iran uranium 'back home to the USA' — thehindu.com](https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/iran-us-war-lebanon-army-israeli-ceasefire-violation-donald-trump-west-asia-conflict-live-updates-april-17-2026/article70872084.ece) * [US Iran war updates LIVE: No date set for talks but Pakistan preps to host; Hormuz stalemate persists — hindustantimes.com](https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-iran-war-updates-donald-trump-live-strait-of-hormuz-peace-talks-ceasefire-nuclear-agreement-april-19-101776560731369.html) * [US Iran News Highlights: Strait of Hormuz news, Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran US, war, Israel Lebanon Ceasefire — indianexpress.com](https://indianexpress.com/article/world/us-news/iran-war-live-updates-us-military-to-block-iranian-port-traffic-in-hormuz-strait-10633398/) * [Iran slams the door on world's most vital waterway: Why 5 LNG tankers heading for India are now in the crosshairs — indianexpress.com](https://indianexpress.com/article/world/iran-reimposes-strait-of-hormuz-restrictions-india-lng-oil-supply-crisis-10643422/) * [Iran Israel War Updates: Bessent threatens Iran with economic pain; Tehran offers safe ship passage via Oman side — firstpost.com](https://www.firstpost.com/world/iran-israel-war-live-updates-us-iran-talks-blockade-hormuz-crisis-attacks-liveblog-14000518.html) * [Iran Israel War Updates: Iran to skip second round of Islamabad talks with US, reports state media — firstpost.com](https://www.firstpost.com/world/iran-israel-war-live-updates-strait-of-hormuz-iran-us-talks-liveblog-14001742.html) * [US Israel Iran War Ceasefire News Highlights — timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/us-israel-iran-war-news-live-updates-ceasefire-talks-israel-airstrike-missile-attack-lebanon-nawaf-salam-donald-trump-pakistan-netanyahu-deal-strait-of-hormuz-impact-latest-update/liveblog/130345732.cms) * [Day 48 of Middle East conflict — Lebanon ceasefire aimed at halting Israel-Hezbollah conflict begins — edition.cnn.com](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/16/world/live-news/iran-war-trump-us-israel) * [Iran closes Hormuz Strait again over US blockade — bangkokpost.com](https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/3239340/iran-closes-hormuz-strait-again-over-us-blockade) * [US Marines rappel onto Iranian-flagged vessel Touska after six-hour standoff — jpost.com](https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-893549) * [Karachi-bound Pakistani tanker loaded with UAE crude clears the Strait of Hormuz — bairdmaritime.com](https://www.bairdmaritime.com/shipping/tankers/karachi-bound-pakistani-tanker-loaded-with-uae-crude-clears-the-strait-of-hormuz) * [Pakistani-flagged tanker exits Gulf via Hormuz with UAE crude, data shows — arabnews.pk](https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2640214/pakistan) * [Shalamar tanker Strait of Hormuz first crude exit 2026: US blockade, Pakistan, 450000 barrels — businessupturn.com](https://www.businessupturn.com/world/pakistan-flagged-tanker-shalamar-becomes-first-crude-carrier-to-exit-strait-of-hormuz-since-us-blockade-began-heading-to-karachi-with-450000-barrels/) * [UAE President, EU Council chief discuss regional tensions, Iranian attacks — sana.sy](https://sana.sy/en/international/2310392) * [Pakistan pitches new US-Iran talks, as Lebanon, Israel to meet — newarab.com](https://www.newarab.com/news/pakistan-pitches-new-us-iran-talks-lebanon-israel-meet) * [Guerra entre Estados Unidos, Israel e Irán, EN VIVO: la Marina estadounidense incautó un buque con bandera iraní — clarin.com](https://www.clarin.com/mundo/guerra-estados-unidos-israel-iran-vivo-imposible-pasen-estrecho-ormuz-podemos-advirtio-iran-cuenta-regresiva-final-tregua-trump_0_VYmMTrzRSt.html) * [Última hora de la guerra de Irán, en directo: Trump destaca el carácter 'valiente y leal' de Israel — vozpopuli.com](https://www.vozpopuli.com/internacional/ultima-hora-de-la-guerra-de-iran-en-directo-trump-destaca-el-caracter-valiente-y-leal-de-israel-ha-demostrado-ser-un-gran-aliado-de-eeuu.html) * [Emiratos exige reabrir Ormuz ante impacto energético global — eltiempomx.com](https://eltiempomx.com/noticia/2026/emiratos-exige-reabrir-ormuz-ante-impacto-energetico-global.html) * [Emiratos exige la 'restitución' del estrecho de Ormuz para reducir la 'presión' energética — noticiasdealava.eus](https://www.noticiasdealava.eus/mundo/2026/04/19/emiratos-exige-restitucion-estrecho-ormuz-para-reducir-presion-energetica-10960597.html) * [War with Iran threatens hunger for millions in Africa and Asia: Financial Times — english.realtribune.ru](https://english.realtribune.ru/war-with-iran-threatens-hunger-for-millions-in-africa-and-asia-financial-times) * [GCC condemns IMO resolution on Hormuz, Iran attacks on Gulf states — dostor.org](https://dostor.org/5512028) * [GCC welcomes Trump Lebanon ceasefire announcement — kapsola.com.sa](https://www.kapsola.com.sa/news/2026/04/16/60246/...) * [Iran-US-Israel War News Updates: Trump says 'not thinking about extending ceasefire' — indianexpress.com](https://indianexpress.com/article/world/us-news/iran-war-live-updates-us-military-to-block-iranian-port-traffic-in-hormuz-strait-10633398/) * [UKMTO reports tanker incident near Oman — arabnews.pk](https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2640331/middle-east) * [UAE President And King Of Bahrain Discuss Fraternal Relations And Regional Developments — businesstoday.me](https://businesstoday.me/regional-roundup/uae-president-and-king-of-bahrain-discuss-fraternal-relations-and-regional-developments/) * [UAE President, King of Bahrain discuss regional developments — sharjah24.ae](https://sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2026/04/13/aa2) * [UAE President and King of Bahrain discuss regional developments and Iranian terrorist aggression — emirates247.com](https://www.emirates247.com/news/uae-president-and-king-of-bahrain-discuss-fraternal-ties-and-regional-developments/781) * [UAE, Bahrain leaders meet to strengthen ties, discuss regional security — filipinotimes.net](https://filipinotimes.net/latest-news/2026/04/14/uae-bahrain-leaders-meet-to-strengthen-ties-discuss-regional-security) * [UAE President, Bahraini King discuss fraternal ties, regional developments — tag911.ae](https://tag911.ae/news/local-news/uae-president-bahraini-king-discuss-fraternal-relations) * [President Sheikh Mohamed discusses Iran war with King of Bahrain — thenationalnews.com](https://thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/04/13/president-sheikh-mohamed-discusses-iran-war-with-king-of-bahrain) * [Sheikh Mohamed, India FM discuss regional developments — madhyamamonline.com](https://madhyamamonline.com/middle-east/uae/sheikh-mohamed-india-fm-discuss-regional-developments-1511007) * [UAE President receives Indian Minister of External Affairs — zawya.com](https://www.zawya.com/en/economy/gcc/uae-president-receives-indian-minister-of-external-affairs-sifuva6o) * [UAE President meets with President of European Council — sharjah24.ae](https://sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2026/04/14/a4) * [UAE President visits Ruler of Ajman — gulftoday.ae](https://gulftoday.ae/news/2026/04/17/uae-president-visits-ruler-of-ajman) * [UAE President meets Ruler of Fujairah, conducts inspection of Fujairah Port — emirates247.com](https://emirates247.com/news/uae-president-meets-ruler-of-fujairah-conducts-inspection-of-fujairah-port/907) * [The President meets with the Ruler of Fujairah and affirms the priority of citizen welfare — voiceofemirates.com](https://voiceofemirates.com/en/the-president-meets-with-the-ruler-of-fujairah-and-affirms-the-priority-of-citizen-welfare) * [UAE President meets Ruler of Fujairah and conducts inspection of Fujairah Port — tribuneindia.com](https://tribuneindia.com/news/fujairah/uae-president-meets-ruler-of-fujairah-and-conducts-inspection-of-fujairah-port) * [Mohammed bin Zayed grants Abdullah Al Mandoos the rank of 'Minister' by federal decree — voiceofemirates.com](https://voiceofemirates.com/en/emirates/2026/04/15/mohammed-bin-zayed-grants-abdullah-al-mandoos-the-rank-of-minister-by-federal-decree) * [Mohammed bin Zayed grants Abdullah Al Mandoos the rank of 'Minister' by federal decree — voiceofemirates.com](https://www.voiceofemirates.com/en/emirates/2026/04/15/mohammed-bin-zayed-grants-abdullah-al-mandoos-the-rank-of-minister-by-federal-decree/) * [UAE VP discusses de-escalation efforts with Iran's speaker Qalibaf, WAM says — reuters.com](https://reuters.com/world/middle-east/uae-vp-discusses-de-escalation-efforts-with-irans-speaker-qalibaf-wam-says-2026-04-15) * [Mansour bin Zayed, Iranian Parliament Speaker discuss regional de-escalation in phone call — gulfnews.com](https://gulfnews.com/uae/mansour-bin-zayed-iranian-parliament-speaker-discuss-regional-de-escalation-in-phone-call-1.500507677) * [Mansour bin Zayed discusses ways to de-escalate tensions with the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament in a phone call — voiceofemirates.com](https://voiceofemirates.com/en/emirates/2026/04/15/mansour-bin-zayed-discusses-ways-to-de-escalate-tensions-with-the-speaker-of-the-iranian-parliament-in-a-phone-call) * [Mansour bin Zayed discusses de-escalation with Iran speaker — sharjah24.ae](https://sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2026/04/15/gh-15) * [UAE President receives credentials of newly appointed ambassadors — gulftoday.ae](https://gulftoday.ae/news/2026/04/17/uae-president-receives-credentials-of-newly-appointed-ambassadors) * [UAE President receives credentials of newly appointed ambassadors — dubaieye1038.com](https://dubaieye1038.com/news/local/uae-president-receives-credentials-of-newly-appointed-ambassadors) * [Mansour bin Zayed receives Uzbekistan's Deputy Prime Minister — mediaoffice.abudhabi](https://mediaoffice.abudhabi/en/government-affairs/mansour-bin-zayed-receives-uzbekistans-deputy-prime-minister) * [Abdullah bin Zayed, UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs discuss latest regional developments — mofa.gov.ae](https://mofa.gov.ae/en/MediaHub/News/2026/4/18/UAE-UK) * [UAE, UK foreign ministers discuss Gulf tensions, Iranian attacks — aninews.in](https://aninews.in/news/world/middle-east/uae-uk-foreign-ministers-discuss-gulf-tensions-iranian-attacks20260419125358/) * [UAE, UK discuss latest regional developments — radioshoma934.ae](https://www.radioshoma934.ae/news/local-news/uae-uk-discuss-latest-regional-developments/) * [UAE, UK discuss latest regional developments — dubaieye1038.com](https://www.dubaieye1038.com/news/local/uae-uk-discuss-latest-regional-developments/) * [Abdullah bin Zayed, Ayman Safadi discuss regional stability, bilateral ties — mofa.gov.ae](https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/MediaHub/News/2026/4/13/bin-Zayed-UAE-Safadi) * [Safadi and Bin Zayed Discuss Strengthening Collective International Efforts for Regional Security and Peace — jordannews.jo](https://www.jordannews.jo/Section-109/News/Safadi-and-Bin-Zayed-Discuss-Strengthening-Collective-International-Efforts-for-Regional-Security-and-Peace-50525) * [UAE and Jordan Foreign Ministers lead high-level diplomatic coordination amid rising regional tensions — israel-chronicle.com](https://israel-chronicle.com/2026/04/uae-and-jordan-foreign-ministers-abdullah-bin-zayed-and-ayman-safadi-lead-high-level-diplomatic-coordination-amid-rising-regional-tensions/) * [UAE, Jordan foreign ministers discuss regional stability, bilateral ties — radioshoma934.ae](https://www.radioshoma934.ae/news/local-news/uae-jordan-foreign-ministers-discuss-regional-stability-bilateral-ties/) * [Abdullah bin Zayed reviews developments with several FMs — sharjah24.ae](https://sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2026/04/14/a27) * [Sheikh Abdullah holds calls with global counterparts on regional security — radioshoma934.ae](https://www.radioshoma934.ae/news/local-news/sheikh-abdullah-holds-calls-with-global-counterparts-on-regional-security/) * [Sheikh Abdullah holds calls with global counterparts on regional security — hit967.ae](https://www.hit967.ae/news/local-news/sheikh-abdullah-holds-calls-with-global-counterparts-on-regional-security/) * [Abdullah bin Zayed receives phone call from Saudi Foreign Minister — mofa.gov.ae](https://mofa.gov.ae/en/MediaHub/News/2026/4/14/UAE-Saudi-Foreign-Minister) * [Saudi FM discusses Mideast issues with regional counterparts — arabnews.com](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2639785/saudi-arabia) * [Abdullah bin Zayed congratulates Mexican FM by phone; discusses bilateral relations, regional developments — mofa.gov.ae](https://mofa.gov.ae/en/MediaHub/News/2026/4/14/bin-Zayed-Mexico) * [Abdullah bin Zayed congratulates Mexican FM by phone — sharjah24.ae](https://sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2026/04/14/a24) * [As Iran Tensions Surge, India Leans On UAE — rediff.com](https://www.rediff.com/news/report/as-iran-tensions-surge-india-leans-on-uae/20260413.htm) * [On Behalf of UAE President, Shakhboot bin Nahyan Attends Inauguration Ceremony of President of Republic of the Congo — mofa.gov.ae](https://mofa.gov.ae/en/MediaHub/News/2026/4/17/UAE-Congo) * [Minister of State for International Cooperation Affirms UAE's Resilience and Strong US Partnership at Semafor World Economy Summit — mofa.gov.ae](https://mofa.gov.ae/en/MediaHub/News/2026/4/16/UAE-US) * [UAE, UK economy and AI – Meta president comments (UAE-India CEPA context) — indianexpress.com](https://indianexpress.com/article/world/us-news/iran-war-live-updates-us-military-to-block-iranian-port-traffic-in-hormuz-strait-10633398/) * [Xi meets UAE Crown Prince MBZ in Beijing, pitches 4-point proposal for stability in West Asia — theprint.in](https://theprint.in/world/xi-meets-uae-crown-prince-mbz-in-beijing-pitches-4-point-proposal-for-stability-in-west-asia/2904698/) * [UAE President, Bahraini King discuss fraternal ties (Abu Dhabi CP arrived in Beijing) — tag911.ae](https://tag911.ae/news/local-news/uae-president-bahraini-king-discuss-fraternal-relations) * [UAE, Jordan foreign ministers discuss (Crown Prince China context) — radioshoma934.ae](https://www.radioshoma934.ae/news/local-news/uae-jordan-foreign-ministers-discuss-regional-stability-bilateral-ties/) * [AD CP, Premier of China discuss strengthening partnership — sharjah24.ae](https://sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2026/04/13/a12) * [Sheikh Abdullah holds calls with global counterparts (Crown Prince China context) — hit967.ae](https://www.hit967.ae/news/local-news/sheikh-abdullah-holds-calls-with-global-counterparts-on-regional-security/) * [Xi sets four-point proposal for Middle East peace — news.rthk.hk](https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1851040-20260414.htm) * [More progress with China, another Open Finance milestone for ADIB, Edge explores more defense cooperation in Brazil — enterpriseam.com](https://enterpriseam.com/uae/2026/04/17/more-progress-with-china-another-open-finance-milestone-for-adib-edge-explores-more-defense-cooperation-in-brazil-and-barings-opens-abu-dhabi-office) * [Sheikh Mohamed, India FM discuss regional developments (Crown Prince Beijing sub-text) — madhyamamonline.com](https://madhyamamonline.com/middle-east/uae/sheikh-mohamed-india-fm-discuss-regional-developments-1511007) *** ### India flag India Three bills at the heart of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) constitutional agenda failed on April 17, and the arithmetic that killed them will not change before 2029. The package was ambitious: a constitutional amendment to redraw parliamentary boundaries, a Lok Sabha expansion to between 816 and 850 seats, and early implementation of 33% women's reservation by 2029. All three required a two-thirds majority. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds 293 of the Lok Sabha's 543 seats — roughly 69 short of the 362 needed. Congress, the Trinamool Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Samajwadi Party voted against. Parliament adjourned the following day without result. The defeat turned on a fault line no oral assurance could bridge. Amit Shah, the home minister, piloted the bills and offered southern states a verbal guarantee of 50% seat increases — designed to offset losses from population-based delimitation, which would penalise Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh for having cut their fertility rates. He then declined to put the guarantee in writing. The DMK voted against, and the package fell. Modi responded the next morning with a nationally televised address in which he accused the opposition of committing "bhrun hatya" — female foeticide — by blocking women's reservation. Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress president, replied pointedly: Modi had mentioned Congress 59 times in the address and women barely at all. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India filed complaints with the Election Commission alleging the speech violated the Model Code of Conduct during ongoing state elections and had used state broadcasters as a party platform. Mr Shah was in Tamil Nadu by the time the complaints were filed. He campaigned in Erode against the Congress-DMK alliance, framing its vote as a betrayal of women ahead of state elections and pledging justice for women. The BJP has no realistic path to government in Tamil Nadu. That is not the point: the move converts a parliamentary failure into campaign material, frames the DMK as an obstacle to women's representation, and applies pressure on the opposition state government. Defeat repurposed as a weapon. Against this, the week's institutional wins were small. The Rajya Sabha re-elected Harivansh Narayan Singh of the Janata Dal (United) as Deputy Chairman for a third consecutive term — routine coalition management, but necessary since the party's 12 seats are essential to the NDA majority. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved ₹24,815 crore for 601 km of new railway track in Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, running through the home states of core NDA partners. Diplomatic business continued undisturbed. Lee Jae Myung, the South Korean president, began a State Visit on April 19, reaffirming the India-South Korea Special Strategic Partnership and a shared vision for an open Indo-Pacific — adding another technology-and-defence anchor to India's regional portfolio at a moment when the wider Quad faces uncertainty. C.P. Radhakrishnan, the vice president, spent two days in Colombo and met both the government and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, ensuring India's ties with Sri Lanka hold regardless of who holds power. Macron telephoned Modi during the week; what they discussed could not be established, but the call was routine: the two countries elevated their ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership in February 2026. * **Women's Reservation and Delimitation Bills fail in Lok Sabha; Modi addresses nation, blames opposition for 'female foeticide'** — India's government introduced a special parliamentary session (April 16–18) to pass three linked bills: the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill for fresh delimitation, a seat expansion to 816–850 MPs, and early implementation of 33% women's reservation in legislatures by 2029. The bills failed to secure the required two-thirds majority on April 17, with Congress, the Trinamool Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Samajwadi Party voting against. Modi delivered a nationally televised address on April 18 accusing the opposition of committing 'bhrun hatya' (female foeticide), while Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress president, countered that Modi 'mentioned Congress 59 times and women barely at all.' Amit Shah, the home minister, piloted the bills in Lok Sabha, presented state-by-state seat projections to reassure southern states, and offered an oral guarantee of 50% seat increases that he later declined to put in writing. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its National Democratic Alliance allies announced nationwide protests; the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India filed complaints with the Election Commission alleging Modi's address violated the Model Code of Conduct during ongoing state elections. * [India fails to pass bill to boost women's representation after delimitation row — theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/17/india-narendra-modi-women-representation-delimitationl) * [India news: Modi slams Congress over women's quota vote — dw.com](https://www.dw.com/en/india-news-modi-slams-congress-over-womens-quota-vote/live-76840035) * [India Parliament blocks Modi's bid to redraw voting boundaries alongside seat quota for women — apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/india-women-reservation-bill-modi-seats-boundaries-e12e5dc09848d6bb94ad9b1ccd436a03) * [India fails to pass parliament expansion bill linked to quotas for women — reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-fails-pass-parliament-expansion-bill-linked-quotas-women-2026-04-17/) * [Modi is pushing to get more women into India's Parliament. That could have other consequences — apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/india-women-reservation-bill-delimitation-7c1746c2beeb9d069452afc647d0e59a) * [India's Modi pushes for more women in bigger parliament in democratic overhaul — reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-modi-pushes-more-women-bigger-parliament-democratic-overhaul-2026-04-16/) * [Modi's Push to Expand Parliament, Reserve Seats for Women Fails in Vote — bloomberg.com](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-17/modi-s-bid-to-expand-parliament-boost-women-lawmakers-fails) * [Modi Attacks Rivals After Failed Bid to Fast-Track Women's Quota — bloomberg.com](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-18/modi-attacks-rivals-after-failed-bid-to-fast-track-women-s-quota) * [PM Modi Speech Live Updates — timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-narendra-modi-address-to-the-nation-today-live-updates-speech-8-30-pm-bjp-lok-sabha-women-reservation-bill-news/liveblog/130355435.cms) * [Congress: PM Modi turned official address into political speech — timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/congress-pm-modi-turned-official-address-into-political-speech/articleshow/130363735.cms) * [PM Modi says 'will get more chances' to push for women's quota, blames Congress as 'anti-reform party' — thehindu.com](https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-modi-address-to-nation-live-updates-womens-reservation-bill-delimitation-april-18-2026/article70877110.ece) * [PM Modi Speech Highlights: Congress slams PM's address, calls it 'partisan' and 'distressed' — indiatoday.in](https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-modi-nation-address-live-updates-speech-women-reservation-bill-2898239-2026-04-18) * [PM Modi slams opposition, apologises to women for bill's defeat — timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modi-slams-opposition-apologises-to-women-for-bills-defeat/articleshow/130363673.cms) * ['Distress address rather than a national address': Opposition slams PM Modi over women reservation bill speech — timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/using-women-as-decoy-opposition-slams-pm-modi-over-reservation-bill-address/articleshow/130357519.cms) * [Video | PM Modi Attacks Congress, Calls It 'Anti-Reform Party' Spreading Falsehoods — ndtv.com](https://www.ndtv.com/video/pm-modi-attacks-congress-calls-it-anti-reform-party-spreading-falsehoods-1087045) * [Congress 'anti-reform' party, will get befitting reply from women: PM Modi — firstpost.com](https://www.firstpost.com/india/congress-anti-reform-party-will-get-befitting-reply-from-women-pm-modi-14001982.html) * [After defeat, PM Modi cites 'foeticide'; Opposition says 'pathetic, partisan' — indianexpress.com](https://indianexpress.com/article/india/after-defeat-pm-modi-cites-foeticide-opposition-says-pathetic-partisan-10644140/) * [PM Modi address to nation: Prime Minister takes on Congress, allies over delimitation — indiatoday.in](https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/modi-speech-nation-criticises-congress-misinformation-delimitation-womens-bill-2898319-2026-04-18) * [Kapil Sibal flags 'new low in Indian politics' over PM Modi's address during polls — thehindu.com](https://www.thehindu.com/shorts/kapil-sibal-flags-new-low-in-indian-politics-over-pm-modis-address-during-polls/article70878676.ece) * [PM To Address Nation At 8:30 PM, Day After Women's Quota Bill Defeated — ndtv.com](https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-address-nation-at-8-30-pm-today-11375243) * [5 big takeaways from Prime Minister Narendra Modi address on women's reservation bill — india.com](https://www.india.com/news/india/5-big-takeaways-from-prime-minister-narendra-modi-address-on-womens-reservation-bill-nari-shakti-vandan-adhiniyam-opposition-parties-congress-tmc-dmk-samajwadi-party-women-empowerment-lok-sabha-8385918/) * [Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address nation at 8.30pm — timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/prime-minister-narendra-modi-to-address-nation-at-8-30pm/articleshow/130350274.cms) * [PM Modi address to the nation | HIGHLIGHTS — theprint.in](https://theprint.in/india/pm-narendra-modi-address-to-the-nation-speech-live-updates/2908417) * [Kharge Says Modi Targeted Congress Instead of Women's Issues in National Speech — outlookindia.com](https://outlookindia.com/national/kharge-says-modi-targeted-congress-instead-of-womens-issues-in-national-speech) * [Women reservation bill: Modi dares opposition on law and delimitation bill — indiatoday.in](https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-modi-women-reservation-delimitation-parliament-speech-dares-opposition-2897179-2026-04-16) * [Delimitation won't bring down south's share of seats, Modi, Shah tell Lok Sabha — thehindu.com](https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/delimitation-wont-bring-down-souths-share-of-seats-modi-shah-tell-lok-sabha/article70870586.ece) * ['Modi ji mentioned Congress 59 times, women barely': Kharge slams PM's speech after bill fails Lok Sabha test — hindustantimes.com](https://hindustantimes.com/india-news/modi-ji-mentioned-congress-59-times-women-barely-mallikarjun-kharge-slams-pms-speech-after-bill-fails-lok-sabha-test-101776568949961.html) * [Modi speech: PM to address nation after LS bill defeat updates — deccanherald.com](https://www.deccanherald.com/india/pm-modi-address-to-the-nation-speech-live-updates-constitutional-amendment-bill-womens-reservation-bill-2026-delimitation-narendra-modi-congress-bjp-rahul-gandhi-3972775) * [PM Modi seeks 'forgiveness' after women reservation bill collapse, slams Congress for selfish politics - 10 takeaways — livemint.com](https://www.livemint.com/news/india/pm-modi-seeks-forgiveness-after-women-reservation-bill-collapse-slams-congress-for-selfish-politics-10-takeaways-11776531626742.html) * [PM will address the nation at 8.30 pm, a day after women quota bill defeat — indiatoday.in](https://indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-modi-will-address-the-nation-today-at-830-pm-a-day-after-womens-quota-bill-defeat-2898132-2026-04-18) * [Has Baazigar Modi Fired His Best Shot? — rediff.com](https://rediff.com/news/column/has-baazigar-modi-fired-his-best-shot/20260418.htm) * [PM Modi Speech Highlights Full Text Today — indianexpress.com](https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pm-modi-speech-womens-quota-bill-delimitation-highlights-full-text-10643903/) * [PM Modi address highlights: Prime Minister Modi calls Congress an 'anti-reform party' after women's quota setback — hindustantimes.com](https://hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-address-to-nation-live-updates-womens-reservation-quota-bill-delimitation-lok-sabha-bjp-rahul-gandhi-101776515426740.html) * [Modi compares defeat of women's quota-linked delimitation bill to 'female foeticide' after rare setback — independent.co.uk](https://independent.co.uk/asia/india/modi-womens-reservation-bill-delimitation-parliament-b2960295.html) * ['PM Modi's address on women's quota violated model code': CPM, CPI write to Election Commission — timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modis-address-on-womens-quota-violated-model-code-cpim-cpi-write-to-election-commission-flag-use-of-state-broadcasters/articleshow/130367746.cms) * [PM Modi Full Speech: 'Matter of time, will remove all obstacles that come in the way of women's reservation amendment Bill' — m.economictimes.com](https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-modi-full-speech-matter-of-time-will-remove-all-obstacles-that-come-in-the-way-of-womens-reservation-amendment-bill/videoshow/130357928.cms) * [Parliament special session highlights: 'India's daughters will forever be grateful to PM Modi,' says Kangana Ranaut — hindustantimes.com](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/parliament-special-session-live-updates-delimitation-womens-reservation-bill-constitution-lok-sabha-pm-modi-rahul-gandhi-101776308965435.html) * [Modi Attacks Opposition as Anti-Women: 'Nari Shakti has been Taken for Granted' — outlookindia.com](https://outlookindia.com/national/modi-attacks-opposition-as-anti-women-nari-shakti-has-been-taken-for-granted) * [Congress, DMK opposition to 'Women's Reservation Bill' won't be tolerated: Amit Shah — thehindu.com](https://www.thehindu.com/elections/tamil-nadu-assembly/congress-dmk-opposition-to-womens-reservation-bill-wont-be-tolerated-amit-shah/article70880180.ece) * [DMK, Congress deprived women of quota for narrow political ends, says Amit Shah in Erode — hindustantimes.com](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/dmk-congress-deprived-women-of-quota-for-narrow-political-ends-says-amit-shah-in-erode-101776594876659.html) * [Amit Shah Accuses Congress, DMK of 'Betraying' Women — outlookindia.com](https://outlookindia.com/national/amit-shah-accuses-congress-dmk-of-betraying-women) * [Amit Shah tables Delimitation Bill in Lok Sabha amidst nationwide protests by Opposition, southern states — m.economictimes.com](https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/amit-shah-tables-delimitation-bill-in-lok-sabha-amidst-nationwide-protests-by-opposition-southern-states/articleshow/130298787.cms) * [Delimitation needed to preserve one vote, one value: Amit Shah in Lok Sabha — timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/delimitation-needed-to-preserve-one-vote-one-value-amit-shah-in-lok-sabha/articleshow/130345375.cms) * [Delimitation Bill: 'False narrative': Amit Shah rejects claims delimitation will weaken southern states — timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/false-narrative-amit-shah-rejects-claims-delimitation-will-weaken-southern-states/articleshow/130311066.cms) * ['Centre seeks to increase Tamil Nadu seats, move blocked by DMK-Cong,' says Amit Shah on Delimitation Bill — zeenews.india.com](https://zeenews.india.com/india/centre-seeks-to-increase-tamil-nadu-seats-move-blocked-by-dmk-cong-says-amit-shah-on-delimitation-bill-3038950.html) * [Women's Quota Bill: 'Opposition Made A Mistake, Will Face Consequences': PM Narendra Modi — ndtv.com](https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/womens-quota-bill-opposition-made-a-mistake-will-face-consequences-pm-narendra-modi-on-womens-quota-bill-failing-parliament-test-11375014) * [How Amit Shah Avoided A Trap And Put Cong In Dock — openthemagazine.com](https://openthemagazine.com/politics/how-amit-shah-avoided-a-trap-and-put-cong-in-dock) * [Parliament special sitting updates: Amit Shah says all elections till 2029 to be held based on existing number of seats — thehindu.com](https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/parliament-budget-special-session-live-april-16-women-reservation/article70867519.ece) * [Special Parliament Session Highlights: Amit Shah says delimitation will benefit South states — indiatoday.in](https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/special-parliament-session-live-updates-womens-reservation-bill-constitution-amendment-seat-delimitation-opposition-protests-2896885-2026-04-16) * [Parliament Session: NDA announces nationwide protests after key bill linked to women's quota fails in Lok Sabha — indiatvnews.com](https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/parliament-special-sitting-live-updates-delimitation-women-s-reservation-pm-modi-amit-shah-rahul-gandhi-akhilesh-yadav-lok-sabha-rajya-sabha-live-blog-1037819) * [Parliament Session: Amit Shah dares Opposition on 50% seat increase for states demand — indiatoday.in](https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/give-me-an-hour-will-return-with-amendment-ensuring-50-rise-in-seats-for-states-amit-shah-tells-opposition-2897859-2026-04-17) * [Why Amit Shah Did Not Formalise The '50% Assurance' — m.thewire.in](https://m.thewire.in/article/politics/why-amit-shah-did-not-formalise-the-50-assurance) * [Amit Shah's 50% Lok Sabha Seat Increase Plan, South Promise, And Why Opposition Still Opposes It — news18.com](https://www.news18.com/explainers/amit-shahs-50-lok-sabha-seat-increase-plan-south-promise-and-why-opposition-still-opposes-it-explained-10037883.html) * [Opposition 'Solely Against Women's Reservation': Home Minister Amit Shah's Sharp Attack In Lok Sabha — news.abplive.com](https://news.abplive.com/news/india/opposition-solely-against-women-s-reservation-amit-shah-s-sharp-attack-in-lok-sabha-1837132) * [Opposition parties will face anger of women over their stance on quota bills — news.webindia123.com](https://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20260418/4440613.html) * [Amit Shah alleges Opposition against women's reservation, increase in SC, ST seats — newindianexpress.com](https://newindianexpress.com/nation/2026/Apr/17/amit-shah-says-india-bloc-opposes-womens-reservation-through-ifs-and-buts) * [Amit Shah's 50%+ seats promise: Ready to give in writing in an hour through an amendment — economictimes.indiatimes.com](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/amit-shahs-50-seats-promise-ready-to-give-in-writing-in-an-hour-through-an-amendment/videoshow/130336743.cms) * [Amit Shah tears into Congress rejoicing the defeat of bill essential for women's quota — newsdrum.in](https://newsdrum.in/national/amit-shah-tears-into-congress-allies-as-bill-essential-for-womens-quota-law-fails-ls-test-11738561) * [59 seats in TN, 42 in Karnataka and 38 in Andhra: Amit Shah explains post-delimitation Lok Sabha math — thestatesman.com](https://www.thestatesman.com/india/south-indian-states-lok-sabha-seats-post-delimitation-amit-shah-lok-sabha-speech-1503582542.html) * [Tamil Nadu 59, Karnataka 42: Amit Shah shares breakdown of Lok Sabha states after delimitation — hindustantimes.com](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-59-karnataka-42-amit-shah-shares-breakdown-of-lok-sabha-states-after-delimitation-101776346695510.html) * ['Insult meted out to Nari Shakti will never be forgiven': Jaishankar lambasts Oppn after Constitutional Amendment Bill defeat in LS — economictimes.indiatimes.com](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/insult-meted-out-to-nari-shakti-will-never-be-forgiven-jaishankar-lambasts-oppn-after-constitutional-amendment-bill-defeat-in-ls/articleshow/130345789.cms) * [Jaishankar targets opposition over not pass Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in Lok Sabha (Hindi) — navbharattimes.indiatimes.com](https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/india/jaishankar-targets-opposition-over-not-pass-nari-shakti-vandan-adhiniyam-in-lok-sabha-how-reacts/articleshow/130346196.cms) * ['Will Face Consequences': PM Modi Slams Opposition After Women's Reservation Bill Fails — oneindia.com](https://www.oneindia.com/india/will-face-consequences-pm-modi-slams-opposition-after-women-s-reservation-bill-fails-8062277.html) * ['Women of this country will teach them a lesson,' BJP says after Constitution Amendment Bill fails — m.economictimes.com](https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/women-of-this-country-will-teach-them-a-lesson-bjp-says-after-constitution-amendment-bill-fails-vows-to-continue-push-for-33-quota/articleshow/130359740.cms) * [BJP, NDA allies to hold nationwide protests against INDIA bloc over Women's Reservation Bill defeat — zeenews.india.com](https://zeenews.india.com/india/bjp-nda-allies-to-hold-nationwide-protests-against-india-bloc-over-women-s-reservation-bill-defeat-3038543.html) * [In Tamil Nadu, Shah slams DMK, Congress over women's reservation bill, promises justice to 'Nari Shakti' — thestatesman.com](https://www.thestatesman.com/india/in-tamil-nadu-shah-slams-dmk-congress-over-womens-reservation-bill-promises-justice-to-nari-shakti-1503583584.html) * ['Opposition will have to face 'wrath of women': Amit Shah lambasts Congress, DMK, Samajwadi after Constitutional Amendment Bill defeat in LS — aninews.in](https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/opposition-will-have-to-face-wrath-of-women-amit-shah-lambasts-congress-dmk-samajwadi-after-constitutional-amendment-bill-defeat-in-ls20260417214722) * [Parliament adjourns sine die, Budget Session ends — rediff.com](https://www.rediff.com/news/report/parliament-adjourns-sine-die-budget-session-ends/20260418.htm) * [Lok Sabha adjourned sine die after stormy Budget session — telanganatoday.com](https://telanganatoday.com/lok-sabha-adjourned-sine-die-after-stormy-budget-session) * [BJP avoiding caste census under guise of women's quota: Akhilesh Yadav in Lok Sabha — indiatvnews.com](https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/sp-backs-womens-quota-bjp-dodging-caste-census-akhilesh-yadav-in-lok-sabha-2026-04-16-1037750) * ['You can't make allegations': LS chair raps BJP MP Tejasvi Surya over 'separatism' jibe — financialexpress.com](https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/you-cant-make-allegations-ls-chair-raps-bjp-mp-tejasvi-surya-over-separatism-jibe/4209100/) * [BJP MP Tejasvi Surya's remarks trigger sharp reactions; Telangana Congress, BRS leaders demand apology — thehindu.com](https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/bjp-mp-tejasvi-suryas-remarks-on-telangana-trigger-sharp-reactions-congress-brs-leaders-demand-apology/article70869041.ece) * [Why delimitation has become a bone of contention between Centre and southern states — firstpost.com](https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/delimitation-centre-vs-southern-states-lok-sabha-bills-14001456.html) * [Shashi Tharoor calls delimitation plan 'political demonetisation', flags bid to favour BJP strongholds — newindianexpress.com](https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2026/Apr/16/shashi-tharoor-calls-delimitation-plan-political-demonetisation-flags-bid-to-favour-bjp-strongholds) * [Abhishek calls out BJP's nefarious plans on Delimitation Bill — thestatesman.com](https://www.thestat) *** ### Pakistan flag Pakistan The White House called Pakistan the "sole mediator" in the US-Iran conflict this week — and when it said Pakistan, it arguably meant Asim Munir, the army chief turned field marshal, who flew to Tehran with a US message while the elected prime minister ran a separate regional tour. Field Marshal Munir spent three days in Tehran, meeting Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran's president, the parliamentary speaker, and Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister, to convey American proposals. The American president praised both Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Munir as "very extraordinary men." The visit ended with no date set for a second round, and Iran publicly cited excessive US demands and ceasefire violations as obstacles. The most striking detail of the week was operational, not diplomatic. After the first round of talks in Islamabad ended without agreement, Iranian negotiators told Pakistan they feared an Israeli attack on their aircraft on the way home. Pakistan Air Force jets escorted them out. That commitment carried real risk: had anything gone wrong, Pakistan's military would have been involved — caught up not just in the diplomacy but in its physical dangers. While Field Marshal Munir carried the American message to Tehran, Mr Sharif conducted a four-day tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey — showing how the civil-military split has become a diplomatic tool. In Riyadh, Mr Sharif met Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, and came home with \$3 billion. In Antalya, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's president, agreed to convene the eighth Pakistan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Ankara. The tour was framed as building regional support for the ceasefire, and the Saudi financial timing confirmed something analysts had suspected: the mediation role is paying dividends beyond prestige. At the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, Muhammad Aurangzeb, the finance minister, met the US Treasury's deputy secretary and said that Pakistan needed continued American support for its IMF programme. Pakistan was hosting American-Iranian talks in Islamabad at the same moment its finance minister was asking Washington to protect its economic lifeline. The mediation role, it was clear, is partly a transaction: Pakistan's usefulness as a go-between traded for protection of its IMF programme. Ishaq Dar, the deputy prime minister and new foreign minister, ran the parallel tracks. He met Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing, and on the sidelines of the Islamabad talks held a separate meeting with Iran's central bank governor — suggesting the two countries are quietly rebuilding economic ties alongside the diplomacy. Sanae Takaichi, Japan's prime minister, phoned Mr Sharif to express full support for Pakistan's mediation, and the American president announced that senior envoys would return to Islamabad for a second round. Pakistan's constraint, though, is real. Iran controls the outcome, not Islamabad. Tehran left the first round without a breakthrough, signalled reluctance about the second, and cited ceasefire violations that Pakistan cannot remedy. The "sole mediator" designation reflects Washington's limited options as much as Pakistani power. Pakistan is the channel; it is not the dealmaker. At home, the week's diplomatic success produced an unusual legitimacy manoeuvre. International outlets — including Bloomberg and The Guardian — described Field Marshal Munir as Pakistan's de facto leader and reported that the American president paid little attention to Mr Sharif. Rather than suppress that characterisation, the domestic political establishment embraced it: the Punjab Assembly adopted a resolution recommending the Nobel Peace Prize for both Mr Sharif and Field Marshal Munir jointly. The co-nomination signals that the governing coalition has stopped projecting a unified civilian face and is instead openly advertising the dual-track arrangement. The India threat hardened more quietly. Asif Ali Zardari, the president, chaired a formal meeting on water resources and called India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty "weaponisation of water," ordering that all diplomatic and legal measures be taken. The move marks a shift from rhetorical complaint to formal commitment. The State Bank lifted its eight-year ban on virtual currencies, issuing a framework under the Virtual Assets Act 2026 that creates a regulated digital asset authority and requires licensed firms to meet anti-money-laundering standards. The 2018 prohibition had become a liability as Pakistan sought to avoid returning to the Financial Action Task Force grey list; the new rules bring an informal reality within the law, strengthening the compliance case Mr Aurangzeb was making in Washington that same week. * **Pakistan hosts US-Iran talks and launches regional diplomacy as Munir leads Tehran mission and Sharif conducts Gulf-Turkey tour** — Pakistan emerged as the sole mediator in the US-Iran war, hosting a first round of direct talks in Islamabad (April 11) that ended without agreement, after which Field Marshal Asim Munir led a delegation to Tehran (April 15-18) to deliver a US message and meet Iran's president, speaker, and foreign minister, while Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister, conducted a parallel four-day tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey (April 15-18) to build regional consensus. The week ended with the American president announcing that JD Vance, Witkoff, and Kushner would return to Islamabad for a second round, though Iran signalled reluctance citing excessive demands and ceasefire breaches; Pakistan's air force also escorted the Iranian negotiators home after the first round, following Tehran's warnings of an Israeli threat to their aircraft. * [Trump to send US delegation to Pakistan for possible Iran talks — aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/19/trump-says-us-negotiators-will-head-to-pakistan-for-iran-ceasefire-talks) * [Iran currently has no decision to send a negotiating delegation to Pakistan, Tasnim reports — reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/iran-currently-has-no-decision-send-negotiating-delegation-pakistan-tasnim-2026-04-19/) * [How Pakistan's army chief became an unlikely peacemaker in the Iran war — theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/17/pakistan-military-chief-asim-munir-unlikely-peacemaker-iran-war) * [Pakistan PM, army chief wrap up key trips in push for more US-Iran talks — aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/18/pakistan-pm-army-chief-wrap-up-key-trips-in-push-for-more-us-iran-talks) * [Exclusive: Iran negotiators, citing possible Israeli attack, got Pakistan escort home from peace talks — reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/iran-negotiators-citing-possible-israeli-attack-got-pakistan-escort-home-peace-2026-04-17/) * [No date set for US-Iran talks, as Pakistan pushes to keep diplomacy alive — aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/16/no-date-set-for-us-iran-talks-as-pakistan-pushes-to-keep-diplomacy-alive) * [Hopes grow for a breakthrough in US-Iran talks as Pakistan mediates — aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/16/hopes-grow-for-a-breakthrough-in-us-iran-talks-as-pakistan-mediates) * [Pakistan says no dates set for second round of US-Iran talks — reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-says-no-dates-set-second-round-us-iran-talks-2026-04-16/) * [Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir in spotlight after Iran visit — apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-iran-us-munir-497734c37c4304d3af958a0c63879d3c) * [Licensable picture: Masoud Pezeshkian - Marshal Asim Munir meeting in Iran — reutersconnect.com](https://www.reutersconnect.com/item/masoud-pezeshkian-marshal-asim-munir-meeting-in-iran/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMjY6bmV3c21sX01UMUFOQURMMDAwQ1FCR1JD) * [Asim Munir in Tehran: Truth about Pakistan, Field Marshal Munir revealed — indiatoday.in](https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/pakistan-army-chief-asim-munir-tehran-visit-islamabad-power-structure-abbas-araghchi-us-iran-peace-talks-2897059-2026-04-16) * [Asim Munir heads to Washington from Iran amid Strait of Hormuz crisis — wionews.com](https://www.wionews.com/world/asim-munir-washington-visit-us-iran-talks-strait-of-hormuz-1776343007651) * [How Asim Munir is repositioning his country — table.media](https://table.media/en/china/heads-en/asim-munir-how-pakistans-army-chief-is-repositioning-his-country) * [Asim Munir becomes Trump's man in South Asia — sundayguardianlive.com](https://sundayguardianlive.com/world/asim-munir-becomes-trumps-man-in-south-asia-184944/) * [Pakistan army chief Asim Munir lands in Iran to convey US offer — timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/last-ditch-bid-for-peace-pakistan-army-chief-asim-munir-lands-in-iran-to-convey-us-offer/articleshow/130287439.cms) * [Pakistani Mediators Arrive in Iran to Keep Peace Talks Alive — nytimes.com](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/15/world/iran-war-trump-us-israel) * [Pakistan army chief in Tehran to advance next round of US-Iran talks — aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/15/pakistan-army-chief-in-tehran-to-advance-next-round-of-us-iran-talks) * [This Week in Explainers: How US-Iran talks reveal the 'real' ruler of Pakistan — firstpost.com](https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/this-week-in-explainers-us-iran-talks-pakistan-asim-munir-14001646.html) * [Pakistan's Army Chief Takes Spotlight in US-Iran Peace Talks — bloomberg.com](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-16/pakistan-s-army-chief-takes-spotlight-in-us-iran-peace-talks) * [Pakistan's Army Chief Steps Into Spotlight in US-Iran Peace Talks — hindustantimes.com](https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pakistans-army-chief-asim-munir-steps-into-spotlight-in-us-iran-peace-talks-101776416760522.html) * [Pak Army chief Munir concludes three-day Iran visit — hindustantimes.com](https://hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/pak-army-chief-munir-concludes-three-day-iran-visit-101776498961031.html) * [Iran War: Pakistan Army Chief Arrives in Tehran to Mediate Peace Talks — bloomberg.com](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-15/pakistan-army-chief-lands-in-tehran-for-us-iran-mediation-talks) * [CDF Munir visits Iran alongside delegation as part of mediation efforts, holds meeting with FM Araghchi — dawn.com](https://www.dawn.com/news/1991972) * [Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir concluded a three-day official visit to Iran — dnd.com.pk](https://dnd.com.pk/field-marshal-syed-asim-munir-concluded-a-three-day-official-visit-to-iran/329355) * [Who is Asim Munir? The US-Iran mediator Trump called his 'favourite field marshal' — the-independent.com](https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/middle-east/iran-pakistan-asim-munir-tehran-b2959105.html) * [Asim Munir in Tehran; White House calls Pakistan the sole mediator in US-Iran talks — theweek.in](https://www.theweek.in/news/middle-east/2026/04/16/asim-munir-in-tehran-white-house-calls-pakistan-the-sole-mediator-in-us-iran-talks.html) * [Munir in Iran, Sharif in Saudi: Does the choice of venues show who's in charge of Pakistan? — firstpost.com](https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/pakistan-power-shift-asim-munir-vs-shehbaz-sharif-us-iran-talks-14001152.html) * [Iran Israel War Updates: Iran to skip second round of Islamabad talks with US — firstpost.com](https://www.firstpost.com/world/iran-israel-war-live-updates-strait-of-hormuz-iran-us-talks-liveblog-14001742.html) * [Pakistan's Punjab Assembly adopts resolution recommending Nobel Peace Prize for Shehbaz, Munir — wionews.com](https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-s-punjab-assembly-adopts-resolution-recommending-nobel-peace-prize-for-shehbaz-sharif-asim-munir-1776346754580/amp) * [Pakistan PM Sharif visits Doha as regional mediation gathers pace for US-Iran talks — euronews.com](https://www.euronews.com/2026/04/16/pakistan-pm-sharif-visits-doha-as-regional-mediation-gathers-pace-for-usiran-talks) * [Pakistan PM Sharif to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey this week — reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-pm-sharif-visit-saudi-arabia-qatar-turkey-this-week-2026-04-15/) * ['Asim Munir Is Running Pakistan': Ex-Pak Minister Says Trump Ignores Shehbaz Sharif Altogether — news18.com](https://www.news18.com/world/asim-munir-is-running-pakistan-ex-pak-minister-says-trump-ignores-shehbaz-sharif-altogether-ws-l-10035400.html) * [Iran rejects second round of negotiation talks in Islamabad, cites 'excessive demands' — tribuneindia.com](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/iran-rejects-second-round-of-negotiation-talks-in-islamabad-cites-excessive-demands-and-ceasefire-breach-by-us/) * [Hormuz tensions flare as Iranian gunboats fire on tanker after reversing shipping pledge — firstpost.com](https://www.firstpost.com/world/hormuz-tensions-flare-as-iranian-gunboats-fire-on-tanker-after-reversing-shipping-pledge-14001921.html) * [Which country sent Rafale fighter jets to escort Shehbaz Sharif? — news24online.com](https://news24online.com/world/which-country-sent-rafale-fighter-jets-to-escort-shehbaz-sharif-pakistan-pm-appeared-visibly/808309/) * [Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif discusses 'regional situation' with Iranian President Pezeshkian — news.abplive.com](https://news.abplive.com/news/world/pakistan-s-pm-shehbaz-sharif-discusses-regional-situation-with-iranian-president-pezeshkian-1837474) * [Shehbaz, Pezeshkian vow regional peace — tribune.com.pk](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2603726/shehbaz-pezeshkian-vow-regional-peace) * [PM Shehbaz reaffirms push for regional peace, diplomacy in talks with Iran's Pezeshkian — tribune.com.pk](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2603632/pm-shehbaz-reaffirms-push-for-regional-peace-diplomacy-in-talks-with-irans-pezeshkian) * [Iran president informs Pakistan PM that Iran would respond decisively to any aggression — spanish.news-pravda.com](https://spanish.news-pravda.com/world/2026/04/19/891199.html) * [Trump looks forward to China summit after Strait of Hormuz reopens — newsnationnow.com](https://www.newsnationnow.com/world/live-updates-israel-lebanon-truce-holds-while-iran-deal-unclear/) * [Trump praises Pakistan's 'Great Prime Minister and Field Marshal' after Iran opens Hormuz — firstpost.com](https://www.firstpost.com/world/trump-praises-pakistans-great-prime-minister-and-field-marshall-amid-iran-hormuz-developments-14001710.html) * [Saudi crown prince, Pakistan PM discuss US-Iran mediation, regional stability — arabnews.com](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2640000/saudi-arabia) * [London mayor praises PM Shehbaz's statesmanship in US-Iran peace talks — geo.tv](https://geo.tv/latest/660744-london-mayor-praises-pm-shehbazs-statesmanship-in-us-iran-peace-talks) * [Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif arrives in Saudi Arabia amid West Asia tensions — tribuneindia.com](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman/pakistan-pm-shehbaz-sharif-arrives-in-saudi-arabia-amid-west-asia-tensions) * [PM Shehbaz returns after Antalya Diplomacy Forum and Gulf visits — tribune.com.pk](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2603431/pakistans-peace-efforts-and-regional-situation-focus-of-attention-in-pm-shehbazs-tri-nation-visit) * [War in the Middle East: latest developments — magnifypost.com](https://www.magnifypost.com/war-in-the-middle-east-latest-developments-51/) * [Donald Trump Praises Pakistan's Shehbaz Sharif, Asim Munir After US-Iran Talks, Calls Them Very Extraordinary Men — ndtv.com](https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/donald-trump-praises-pakistans-shehbaz-sharif-asim-munir-after-us-iran-talks-calls-them-very-extraordinary-men-11348910) * [Trump says U.S. seizes Iranian-flagged cargo ship near Strait of Hormuz — japantoday.com](https://japantoday.com/category/world/iran-doubles-down-on-closing-the-strait-of-hormuz-as-the-ceasefire-inches-toward-expiration) * [Pakistan secures \$3 billion from Saudi Arabia as ties deepen — dw.com](https://www.dw.com/en/pakistan-secures-3-billion-from-saudi-arabia-as-ties-deepen/a-76785193) * ['Two fantastic people': Trump all praise again for PM Shehbaz, CDF Munir after Hormuz breakthrough — tribune.com.pk](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2603313/two-fantastic-people-trump-all-praise-again-for-pm-shehbaz-cdf-munir-after-hormuz-breakthrough) * [PM Shehbaz lauds Trump's 'gracious' remarks praising Pakistan's mediation efforts — geo.tv](https://www.geo.tv/latest/660508-pm-shehbaz-lauds-trumps-gracious-remarks-praising-pakistans-mediation-efforts) * [PM Shehbaz speaks with Iranian President in cordial call — pakobserver.net](https://pakobserver.net/pm-shehbaz-speaks-with-iranian-president-in-cordial-call) * [Shehbaz-Pezeshkian Call Reaffirm Regional Peace Efforts — pakistantoday.com.pk](https://pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/04/20/in-45-min-call-with-pezeshkian-pm-reaffirms-commitment-to-regional-peace) * [Iran closes Hormuz Strait again over US blockade, ships reverse course — dhakatribune.com](https://www.dhakatribune.com/world/middle-east/408052/iran-closes-hormuz-strait-again-over-us-blockade) * [Trump dice que EEUU incautó buque con bandera iraní cerca de estrecho de Ormuz — telemundo62.com](https://www.telemundo62.com/noticias/mundo/marina-eeuu-buque-carga-irani-bloqueo-estretcho-ormuz/2575200/) * [U.S. seizes Iranian-flagged ship near Strait of Hormuz as Iran vows response — barrie360.com](https://barrie360.com/us-seizes-iranian-flagged-ship-strait-of-hormuz-iran-vows-response/) * [Pakistan PM Sharif says 'full effort' still on to resolve US-Iran conflict — reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-pm-sharif-says-full-effort-still-resolve-us-iran-conflict-2026-04-13/) * [PM Shehbaz highlights diplomacy drive in call with Iranian president — en.dailypakistan.com.pk](https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/19-Apr-2026/pm-shehbaz-highlights-diplomacy-drive-in-call-with-iranian-president) * [Trump hints at new Iran talks as Hormuz standoff intensifies — apnews.com](https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-04-14-2026) * [Can Pakistan juggle US-Iran mediation with Saudi defence commitments? — aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/14/can-pakistan-juggle-us-iran-mediation-with-saudi-defence-commitments) * [Pakistan PM heads to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkiye in bid to end war on Iran — aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/14/pakistan-pm-headed-to-saudi-and-turkiye-amid-prospect-of-new-us-iran-talks) * [Donald Trump issues new warning to Iran: More strikes if ceasefire ends without deal — thehill.com](https://thehill.com/policy/international/5837535-donald-trump-warning-iran-ceasefire-end/) * [Bill Maher mocks Trump over Iran, Strait of Hormuz back-and-forth — thehill.com](https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5837632-bill-maher-trump-iran-strait/) * [Shehbaz Sharif to Visit Riyadh and Ankara to Revive US-Iran Talks — 8am.media](https://8am.media/eng/shehbaz-sharif-us-iran-talks/) * [Turkey hosts latest diplomatic push on Middle East war — voiceofalexandria.com](https://www.voiceofalexandria.com/news/national/turkey-hosts-latest-diplomatic-push-on-middle-east-war/article_3012d6c1-440f-56ec-aaad-d798a992fa51.html) * [US navy attacks and seizes Iranian cargo ship, with peace talks due to take place in Pakistan — bbc.co.uk](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cly90l3ln30t?post=asset%3A49c0ff75-f348-4c6e-b06f-7deed9fae646) * [Trump and Asim Munir hold a telephone summit: Pakistan is a key player in securing the Strait of Hormuz — voiceofemirates.com](https://www.voiceofemirates.com/en/politics/2026/04/19/trump-and-asim-munir-hold-a-telephone-summit-pakistan-is-a-key-player-in-securing-the-strait-of-hormuz/) * [Iran war live updates: Blockade of Iranian ports 'fully implemented,' military officials say — newsnationnow.com](https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/live-updates-middle-east-ports-strait-of-hormuz-iran-war-retaliation/) * [The Latest: Israel and Lebanon hold rare talks as US-Iran standoff deepens — local10.com](https://www.local10.com/news/world/2026/04/14/the-latest-israel-and-lebanon-hold-rare-talks-as-us-iran-standoff-deepens/) * [Pakistan PM returns after tri-nation tour — timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-pm-returns-after-tri-nation-tour/articleshow/130364226.cms) * [PM Shehbaz Wraps Saudi, Qatar, Türkiye Tour on Peace — pakistantoday.com.pk](https://pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/04/18/pm-shehbaz-wraps-tri-nation-tour-highlights-peace-diplomacy-and-stronger-regional-ties) * [PM Sharif to visit Saudi Arabia and Türkiye as Pakistan pushes peace efforts — turkiyetoday.com](https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/pm-sharif-to-visit-saudi-arabia-and-turkiye-as-pakistan-pushes-peace-efforts-3218107) * [PM briefs President on diplomatic efforts in US-Iran talks — bolnews.com](https://www.bolnews.com/pakistan/pm-briefs-president-on-diplomatic-efforts-in-us-iran-talks/) * [PM briefs president on US-Iran talks, next diplomatic push — english.aaj.tv](https://english.aaj.tv/news/330456933/pm-briefs-president-on-us-iran-talks-next-diplomatic-push) * [PM takes president into confidence on US-Iran talks, briefs him on upcoming visits — dawn.com](https://www.dawn.com/news/1991689/pm-takes-president-into-confidence-on-us-iran-talks-briefs-him-on-upcoming-visits-to-saudi-arabia-turkiye) * [Trump hints at second round of US-Iran talks within days — www3.nhk.or.jp](https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20260415_10/) * [Interior Minister calls on PM Shehbaz Sharif — app.com.pk](https://www.app.com.pk/national/interior-minister-calls-on-pm-shehbaz-sharif-3/) * [Licensable picture: Saudi Crown Prince meets Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif — reutersconnect.com](https://www.reutersconnect.com/item/saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-meets-with-pakistans-pm-shehbaz-sharif/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMjY6bmV3c21sX1JDMjZRS0E1V1FGVw) * [Naqvi briefs PM Shehbaz on regional situation — samaa.tv](https://www.samaa.tv/2087349521-naqvi-briefs-pm-shehbaz-on-regional-situation) * [Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir's new role: Peacemaker of Middle East — theweek.in](https://www.theweek.in/news/middle-east/2026/04/17/pakistan-army-chief-asim-munirs-new-role-peacemaker-of-middle-east.html) * [US-Israel-Iran War: Trump's Favourite Field Marshal: How Munir Became The President's Best Man — ndtv.com](https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/us-israel-iran-war-trumps-favourite-field-marshal-how-munir-became-the-presidents-best-man-11365922) * [Video | The Story Of Asim Munir | Iran | USA | Tehran | Biography — ndtv.com](https://www.ndtv.com/video/the-story-of-asim-munir-iran-usa-tehran-biography-1086882) * [Iran US War News: Pakistan Asim Munir Lands In Iran With Trump's Peace Offer After Islamabad Talks Fail — ndtv.com](https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/iran-us-war-news-pakistan-asim-munir-lands-in-iran-with-trumps-peace-offer-after-islamabad-talks-fail-11364237) * [US Iran News: Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir Takes Spotlight In US-Iran Peace Talks — ndtv.com](https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-iran-news-pakistans-army-chief-asim-munir-takes-spotlight-in-us-iran-peace-talks-11369727) * ['Asim Munir de facto leader': Ex-Pak minister says Trump 'didn't even' bother to talk about Sharif — hindustantimes.com](https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/asim-munir-de-facto-leader-ex-pak-minister-says-trump-didn-t-even-bother-to-talk-about-sharif-101776305190173.html) * [Hugs and 'delight' as Asim Munir arrives in Iran after failed Pak talks — hindustantimes.com](https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/after-failed-islamabad-talks-pakistan-army-chief-asim-munir-iran-agenda-us-donald-trump-jd-vance-abbas-araghchi-101776304147743.html) * ['Extraordinary' security measures in Pakistan ahead of potential second round of US-Iran talks — hindustantimes.com](https://hindustantimes.com/world-news/extraordinary-security-measures-in-pakistan-ahead-of-potential-second-round-of-us-iran-talks-101776596686992-amp.html) * [Vance, Witkoff and Kushner to Pakistan for US-Iran Talks Round 2: White House Confirms — businessupturn.com](https://www.businessupturn.com/world/breaking-vance-witkoff-and-kushner-to-head-to-pakistan-for-second-round-of-us-iran-talks-white-house/) * [Tehran says new US proposals under review after Pakistan army commander's visit — middleeasteye.net](https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/tehran-says-new-us-proposals-under-review-after-pakistan-army-commanders) * [Pakistan's army chief lands in Iran – Al Jazeera — iranintl.com](https://www.iranintl.com/en/202604159997) * [What to know about Pakistan's army chief and his role as mediator between Iran and the US — bostonherald.com](https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/04/16/pakistan-army-chief-iran-us-mediator/) * [Pakistan Army Chief Lands in Iran, Setting Stage for Next Round of US-Iran Talks — thequint.com](https://www.thequint.com/news/breaking-news/pakistan-army-chief-tehran-visit-iran-us-talks) * [Pakistan Army Chief's Tehran Visit Boosts US-Iran Ceasefire Diplomacy — gulfnews.com](https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/pakistan-pm-military-chief-complete-three-country-diplomatic-tour-aimed-at-iran-peace-1.500511073) * [Pakistan's army chief concludes three-day visit to Iran: military statement — thedailystar.net](https://www.thedaily)