US-Iran war live updates: Iranian Speaker wants ceasefire in Lebanon before peace talks begin; Vance warns Iran not to ‘play’ US; Trump lashes out over Strait of Hormuz

Thank you for joining our continuing live coverage of the war in the Middle East.

Here’s a recap of the latest developments:

• US Vice President JD Vance is on his way to Pakistan’s capital Islamabad to lead the delegation for peace talks with Iranian officials on Saturday. “If they’re gonna try to play us, then they’re gonna find that the negotiating team is not that receptive,” Vance said as he departed, adding that US President Donald Trump had given the team “some pretty clear guidelines”.
• Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf said a ceasefire in Lebanon “must be fulfilled before negotiations begin”, in addition to the release of blocked Iranian assets.
• Trump has demanded Iran open the Strait of Hormuz, posting on social media that Tehran’s only leverage is “short-term extortion” of the world using international waterways, and that “the only reason they are alive today is to negotiate”.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has struck a non-binding agreement with Singapore, which has promised to do everything possible to keep supplying Australia with 55 per cent of its petrol.

US President Donald Trump sought to ratchet up pressure on Iran to cut a deal as the two sides prepared for direct talks in Pakistan to turn their fragile truce into a lasting peace.

Trump posted on social media on Friday that Tehran’s only leverage is “short term extortion of the world by using International Waterways” – a reference to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane for oil and natural gas that remains largely shut – and declared that the “Iranians don’t seem to realise they have no cards.”

“The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!” he said on Truth Social.

Bloomberg

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has claimed two points that he said had been mutually agreed on — a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked Iranian assets — have yet to be implemented.

“These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin,” he wrote in a post on X.

Iran has not yet said who it will send to the ceasefire talks in Pakistan that are expected to start Saturday.

AP

US Vice President JD Vance has warned Tehran not to “play” the US as he departed for Islamabad for negotiations aimed at ending the war with Iran.

“We’re looking forward to the negotiation. I think it’s gonna be positive. We’ll, of course, see,” Vance said as he boarded Air Force Two on his way to Pakistan.

“As President Trump said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand.”

“If they’re gonna try to play us, then they’re gonna find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.”

Thank you for joining our continuing live coverage of the war in the Middle East.

Here’s a recap of the latest developments:

• US Vice President JD Vance is on his way to Pakistan’s capital Islamabad to lead the delegation for peace talks with Iranian officials on Saturday. “If they’re gonna try to play us, then they’re gonna find that the negotiating team is not that receptive,” Vance said as he departed, adding that US President Donald Trump had given the team “some pretty clear guidelines”.
• Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf said a ceasefire in Lebanon “must be fulfilled before negotiations begin”, in addition to the release of blocked Iranian assets.
• Trump has demanded Iran open the Strait of Hormuz, posting on social media that Tehran’s only leverage is “short-term extortion” of the world using international waterways, and that “the only reason they are alive today is to negotiate”.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has struck a non-binding agreement with Singapore, which has promised to do everything possible to keep supplying Australia with 55 per cent of its petrol.