Masih Alinejad awarded inaugural European Paulskirche Prize for Democracy

He said Iran has not put forward any counterproposals or conditions of its own. He added that no decision has been made regarding potential negotiations.

Araghchi said what is currently taking place is not negotiations but the exchange of messages, either directly or through regional intermediaries.

He added that he continues to receive direct messages from US envoy Steve Witkoff but stressed that this “does not mean negotiations.”

Araghchi said the message exchanges are being conducted within a defined framework under government oversight and supervised by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

He noted that communications are being handled through the Foreign Ministry, with additional contacts taking place between security bodies.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi is in critical condition after suffering a heart attack in Zanjan prison and has been denied access to specialized medical care, the Narges Foundation said.

In a statement on Tuesday, the foundation said Iranian authorities have refused to transfer Mohammadi to a hospital or allow her to be examined by a specialist, despite reports of her losing consciousness, experiencing severe chest pain and medical recommendations for an urgent angiography.

The group warned that her life is at risk in prison and criticized what it described as continued restrictions on her basic rights, including limited phone contact, a ban on communication with lawyers and the requirement that visits take place in the presence of security officials.

The foundation called for the immediate and unconditional release of Mohammadi and other political inmates and prisoners of conscience.

Explosions and bombardments were reported across several Iranian cities on Tuesday evening, including Bushehr, Shiraz, Kermanshah, Ramhormoz and Andimeshk, according to Iranian media.

Reports also pointed to blasts near the Iran Marine Industrial Company (SADRA) in Bushehr in southern Iran, and a local official confirmed a missile strike in a Kermanshah in the west.

State-affiliated outlets said air defenses were activated over Tehran to counter “hostile targets".

The United Arab Emirates has imposed a ban on the entry and transit of Iranian nationals through Dubai, according to a notice by FlyDubai.

The directive, which takes immediate effect, says that Iranian passport holders are not permitted to enter or transit via Dubai International Airport. The restriction applies broadly to all Iranian citizens, including those holding valid UAE residency visas across all categories as well as holders of UAE visit and tourist visas.

The notice also says Iranian nationals currently outside the UAE, including residents, will be denied entry into the country, with the measure reflected in official application responses.

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China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar met on March 31, 2026, to review the situation in the region and outline a joint framework for de-escalation.

The meeting comes as Pakistan has in recent weeks positioned itself as a mediator in the Iran war, hosting talks in Islamabad with Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia days earlier and reportedly facilitating indirect exchanges between Iran and the United States.

In the statement, the Pakistani and Chinese sides called for the immediate cessation of hostilities and urged all parties to take maximum efforts to prevent further escalation. They stressed that humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach all war-affected areas without obstruction.

Beijing and Islamabad also emphasized the need to start peace talks as soon as possible, underscoring that dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable means to resolve conflicts.

They called for safeguarding the sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and its Arab neighbors, and urged all sides to commit to peaceful dispute resolution and refrain from the use or threat of force during negotiations.

The initiative highlighted the importance of protecting civilians and non-military targets, calling on all parties to immediately halt attacks on civilian populations and infrastructure.

It stressed adherence to international humanitarian law and specifically warned against targeting critical facilities, including energy, desalination and power plants, as well as peaceful nuclear infrastructure such as nuclear power stations.

China and Pakistan also drew attention to the security of maritime routes, describing the Strait of Hormuz as a vital global shipping lane for goods and energy. They called for measures to ensure the safety of vessels and crews in the area, facilitate the safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal transit through the strait as soon as possible.

Finally, the two countries reaffirmed the primacy of the United Nations Charter, urging stronger multilateral cooperation. They called for efforts to support a comprehensive peace framework and achieve lasting peace based on international law and the principles of the UN Charter.