JUST IN: Trump sends delegation to Pakistan to negotiate with Iran; Israel destroys buildings in southern Lebanon
In breaking news, the following story has emerged from the international scene.
04/19/2026 – 15:52Trump rules out JD Vance’s participation in Pakistan negotiations for security reasons (ABC News) President Donald Trump confirmed to ABC News that Vice President JD Vance will not lead the US delegation in talks with Iran in Islamabad, contradicting previous statements by senior officials such as UN envoy Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. The president justified Vance’s absence based strictly on security concerns, although he praised his vice president’s performance, according to the US network ABC News. 04/19/2026 – 15:28The Israeli Army continues destruction in southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire. Haaretz newspaper reports that military commanders told them that civilian homes, public buildings and schools are being demolished as part of a broader policy to “clear the area.” According to the same source, dozens of heavy machinery vehicles have been deployed in the area in recent weeks and some workers receive compensation based on the number of structures destroyed. 04/19/2026 – 15:16Pakistan shields Islamabad before the start of negotiations between the US and Iran Pakistani authorities have reinforced security in Islamabad and neighboring Rawalpindi by closing roads and restricting traffic before the imminent arrival of delegations from the United States and Iran to hold peace talks. Through a publication on platform 04/19/2026 – 15:10 Israel affirms that it will use “full force” in Lebanon despite the truce if its soldiers face threats Occupied West Bank. He added that the army was also ordered to “eliminate homes in (frontline) villages near the border that served in every respect as Hezbollah terrorist outposts and that threatened Israeli communities.” 04/19/2026 – 14:55Iran denounces the US blockade as an act of aggression and war crime The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Esmaeil Baqaei, denounced through a publication on Baqaei called the measure “illegal and criminal,” noting that it violates the United Nations Charter and amounts to a war crime and crime against humanity by imposing collective punishment against the Iranian population. 04/19/2026 – 14:48 Emmanuel Macron will receive Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Tuesday “This visit will be an opportunity for the head of state to reaffirm his commitment to full and complete respect for the ceasefire in Lebanon, France’s support for the territorial integrity of the country and the actions undertaken by the Lebanese State to guarantee its full sovereignty and monopoly on weapons,” the French presidency stressed. Nawaf’s visit Salam comes after the death of a French blue helmet in an ambush attributed to Hezbollah, which also left three wounded, on Saturday, April 18. This article explains what happened: 04/19/2026 – 14:24 Trump warns of military actions against Iran and at the same time talks about the negotiations in Pakistan Donald Trump denounced in Truth Social that Iran violated the ceasefire by firing on ships from France and the United Kingdom on Saturday, among others, pointing out that the Strait of Hormuz remains under a US blockade that costs Tehran 500 million dollars a day, so he does not understand why Iran says it controls it. President reported that his representatives will arrive tomorrow night in Islamabad, Pakistan, to begin negotiations, warning that, if the proposed deal is not accepted, the United States will destroy power plants and bridges in Iranian territory to put an end to that country’s “killing machine.” 04/19/2026 – 14:20Turkey accuses Israel of taking advantage of the Iran-US negotiations. US to expand in Lebanon Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Israel of trying to create a “fait accompli” and seeking the occupation of new territories in Lebanon despite the agreed ceasefire. Fidan denounced that Israeli expansionism is taking advantage of the current negotiations between Iran and the United States acting as a distraction to advance its military objectives in Lebanese territory. 04/19/2026 – 14:17Iran turns back two oil tankers transiting Strait of Hormuz, Tasnim reports Iran’s armed forces turned back two oil tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz after issuing warnings, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, noting that this came as a result of the continued US maritime blockade of Iran. The vessels, which were sailing under the flags of Botswana and Angola, were forced to change course after what the report described as “unauthorized transit” through the strategic sea route. 04/19/2026 – 14:09Iran militarizes the Strait of Hormuz and issues warnings to ships Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has restricted navigation in the Gulf and warned that any ship near the Strait of Hormuz will be considered an ally of the enemy after attacks on oil tankers. Military control of the area includes the collection of transit fees and occurs in a climate of high regional tension also marked by the death of a French UN soldier in Lebanon attributed to Hezbollah, although the militant group denies this. This is the minute by minute of the day of Saturday, April 18 in the war in the Middle East: 04/19/2026 – 14:08 Welcome to real-time coverage of what happens on April 19 in the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
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Source: This article was originally published in another language by France 24 – Noticias y actualidad internacional en vivo and has been translated and adapted for our global English-speaking audience. Read the original article here.