Trump Suggests US-Iran Ceasefire Talks May Resume in Islamabad Soon

By Clea Skopeliti

*Published: 2026-04-15*

Good morning. President Donald Trump stated that US-Iran ceasefire talks could resume in Islamabad within the next two days, according to a New York Post reporter who was in the city for the initial round of negotiations over the weekend. The reporter recounted that Trump called her and advised: “You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there.” Trump also praised Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, for his role in arranging the discussions.

These comments come as Islamabad works to schedule further negotiations before the current two-week ceasefire expires on April 22. A Pakistani official indicated on Tuesday that talks could restart shortly, though possibly a day or two later than Trump’s timeline. Prior direct talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad collapsed on April 12, after Iran declined to make commitments on its nuclear program, leading the US to impose a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.

Men collecting scrap near burned cars at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. *Photograph: Marwan Naamani/Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock*

Israel-Lebanon negotiations status

Israel and Lebanon held direct talks in Washington regarding their ongoing conflict—their first in more than three decades. The US State Department described the discussions as productive. However, Hezbollah stated it would not recognize any agreements reached by the Israeli and Lebanese government representatives.

For the latest developments, follow our liveblog.

House Democrats Propose Commission on Presidential Fitness

House Democrats introduced legislation on Tuesday to establish a commission, led by Vice President JD Vance, to evaluate President Trump’s fitness for office and potentially invoke the 25th Amendment to remove him if deemed necessary. The proposal, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, cites recent Trump statements, including a reported warning that Iran’s “whole civilization will die” if it does not meet US demands, and a social media post depicting him as Jesus Christ. Trump also reportedly referred to Pope Leo as “weak” and “terrible.”

*Composite: Getty Images*

Prospects for passage

The bill faces slim chances in the Republican-controlled House, where GOP members have not publicly raised significant concerns about Trump’s fitness. Fifty other Democratic representatives have co-sponsored the measure.

Vance’s response to papal criticism

Vice President Vance, a Catholic convert, defended Trump amid the pope’s remarks criticizing White House policy on the Iran conflict. Vance suggested Pope Leo should “stick to matters of morality” and cautioned that opinions on theology require care.

DOJ Seeks to Vacate January 6 Convictions for Proud Boys, Oath Keepers Members

The Department of Justice has filed motions requesting a federal appeals court to vacate convictions of members from the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, who were found guilty of seditious conspiracy related to the January 6, 2021, events at the US Capitol. US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, appointed by Trump, signed the separate motions targeting several group leaders. The filings invoke prosecutorial discretion, a standard practice where new administrations may seek to revisit prior convictions; the Supreme Court has routinely granted such requests in similar cases.

Supporters of Trump at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. *Photograph: Leah Millis/Reuters*

On his first day in his second term, Trump issued pardons and commutations to approximately 1,600 individuals charged in connection with the Capitol events. Approval of these motions would remove the convictions from the defendants’ records.

In other news …

Kim Jong-un inspects a hypersonic missile test launch in Pyongyang in January. *Photograph: 朝鮮通信社/AP*

The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog agency warned that North Korea has achieved “very serious” advancements in its capacity to produce additional nuclear weapons.

An 86-year-old French woman, who relocated to the US to marry her partner from the 1950s, was detained by ICE in Louisiana; her family expressed concerns for her health and safety.

A woman accused California Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2018. Swalwell resigned from Congress on Tuesday.

Federal authorities arrested a California man who had been shot by ICE agents, charging him with assault on a federal officer.

Stat of the day: $8bn renewable investment could address Cuba’s energy needs amid US embargo

Solar panels on a house in Regla, Havana province. *Photograph: Ramón Espinosa/AP*

A thinktank report states that an $8bn investment in renewable energy could enable Cuba to generate 93.4% of its electricity needs, potentially offsetting effects of the longstanding US embargo. The report suggests international funding could cover the costs.

Well Actually: Recognizing and addressing catastrophizing tendencies

If you go down this mental pathway habitually, it can leave you feeling like you are always in crisis mode. *Illustration: Alvaro Dominguez / Guardian Design / Getty Images*

Your boss schedules a meeting for later in the week; despite no prior negative feedback, you assume termination, unemployment, and financial ruin. Or, when your partner is delayed returning home, you imagine a severe accident. Experts identify this as catastrophizing—a cognitive pattern where individuals anticipate the worst possible outcomes. Here’s what specialists recommend to manage it: pause to assess evidence, challenge automatic thoughts, and practice mindfulness techniques to reframe scenarios realistically.

Don’t miss this: A month immersed in tradwife content and practices

‘I was reminded how relaxing I find it to make bread.’ *Photograph: Alicia Canter/The Guardian*

Novels and social media accounts featuring “tradwives”—women embracing traditional homemaking roles—have gained traction recently. Lucy Knight experimented for a month with tradwife-inspired activities, including baking bread, making jam, cough drops, and even sunscreen. She noted the appeal of slowing down but observed that influencers often project an image of abundant free time, which many viewers find aspirational amid busy modern lives.

Climate check: Wildfires set records in US Great Plains ranchlands

An aerial view of the Morrill fire terrain on March 14. *Photograph: InciWeb/United States Forest Service*

Grasslands across the Great Plains typically begin greening in spring. This year, over one million acres in Nebraska remain scorched after wildfires that shattered annual burned-acreage records in a single month. While spring conditions naturally increase fire risk in grasslands, officials attribute greater intensity to rising temperatures and prolonged drought in the US heartland.

Last Thing: Paris raffle winner claims €1m Picasso prize with €100 ticket

Péri Cochin, founder of the charity raffle, speaks via video with the winner at Christie’s in Paris. *Photograph: Tom Nicholson/Reuters*

A Paris art enthusiast won a Pablo Picasso painting valued at over €1m through a €100 charity raffle ticket. Stunned, he questioned: “How do I check that it’s not a hoax?” He purchased the ticket after overhearing discussions about the raffle at a restaurant.

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