No. 17

April 12, 2026

For Your Information

• Iran's Declaration of "Historic and Crushing Defeat"
of U.S. and Israel

Direct Talks Between Iran and U.S. in Islamabad

Iranian delegation to the negotiations arrives in Pakistan, April 11, 2026.

Direct face-to-face talks began on April 11 in Islamabad, Pakistan, between Iran and the U.S. for a permanent ceasefire to end the illegal war against Iran launched on February 28 by the U.S./Israeli aggressors. The Iranian delegation was headed by Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Secretary of the Supreme National Defence Council Ali Akbar Ahmadian, as well as representatives from the security, military, economic, and legal sectors. The U.S. side was led by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner. President Trump had agreed to the talks based on Iran's 10-Point proposal that included a ceasefire

Upon arrival, Qalibaf confirmed that two key conditions must be met before talks could proceed: "A ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's frozen assets." He noted the treachery of the U.S./Israeli aggressors in carrying out attacks on Iran during prior negotiations: when it started the current war on February 28, derailing productive negotiations on Iran's civilian nuclear program; and when Israel attacked Iran during similar negotiations in June 2025. This has forced Iran to be extremely wary. "We have goodwill, but we do not have trust [in the opposite party]," Iran's Parliamentary Speaker said.

He warned that there would only be an agreement with the U.S. if the latter was "ready for a genuine agreement and to grant the rights of the Iranian nation." If the U.S. is seeking to use the negotiation to go through the motions and try to deceive Iran, the country will continue to secure its rights by relying on its own capabilities which have been amply demonstrated.

The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) informed that the U.S. side had generally accepted the two conditions for the negotiations. While Israel continues to bomb southern Lebanon, its bombing of Beirut has reportedly ceased. The Iranian negotiating team continued to press for a full ceasefire in Lebanon. IRNA also noted that experts and technical personnel were involved in negotiating the release of Iran's financial assets.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi, a member of Iran's negotiating team in Islamabad, highlighted that this round of talks with the U.S. was different from previous rounds due to Iran's enhanced strategic positioning and the lessons learned from past negotiations. He expressed optimism that the experience and resolve exhibited by the Iranian delegation could lead to a breakthrough in the talks. He underscored that Iran's military successes against the U.S./Israeli aggression, its strategic control of the Strait of Hormuz and the national unity of the Iranian people have given Iran the upper hand in the negotiations.

On April 12, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei reported that after more than 20 hours, the two sides had reached a consensus on some issues, but could not come to agreement on two or three key matters. The talks have now ended.

Head of the Iranian delegation Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf noted on April 12: "My colleagues raised forward-looking initiatives, but the opposite side ultimately failed to win the trust of the Iranian delegation in this round of negotiations." He added that Iran pursues its diplomacy with the backing of its military and in the framework of affirming the rights of the Iranian people. He emphasized that Iran will spare no effort to consolidate the achievements of its 40-day national defence against the aggressors.

Further reporting from Press TV informs that the U.S. sought not only "unrestricted passage for its intruding vessels and those of its allies through the Strait of Hormuz, but also the complete dismantling of Iran's uranium enrichment program and the surrender of its existing uranium stockpile." These terms amounted to a demand for unconditional surrender which Vance presented as the U.S.'s "final and best offer." Iran declined.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X that Iran is "disappointed with how U.S. behaved." He recounted how a call from Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin to U.S. Vice President Vance during the meeting "shifted the focus from U.S.-Iran negotiations to Israel's interests." He added that "The U.S. tried to achieve at the negotiating table what it could not achieve through war."

(With files from Fars, IRNA, Press TV. Photos: Al Mayadeen, Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.)

Iranian People Stand as One

Thousands of Iranians form human chains around their nation's power plants, bridges and other infrastructure in a campaign called "Human Chain of Iranian Youth for a Bright Tomorrow."

For nearly 40 days Iranians have taken to the streets every night to defend the Islamic Revolution in defiance of U.S./Israeli savage bombardment. During the hours before the announcement of the ceasefire agreement, following U.S. President Donald Trump's psychopathic threats to erase Iranian civilization, crowds were noticeably larger. Demonstrators were condemning U.S./Israeli attacks, thanking the armed forces for their missile responses and demanding continued retaliation against the aggressors.

With the announcement that the U.S. had accepted Iranian terms for a ceasefire, jubilant demonstrations swept the country.

In the southwestern city of Dezful in Khuzestan province, a group of university students gathered to protect the Old Bridge, that is more than 1,700 years old, by forming a human chain in response to threats from the U.S. president.

Videos of actions can be viewed here and here.

(Photos and videos: Farsnews)

Iran's Supreme Leader Reiterates Demand for Reparations from U.S./Israeli Aggressors

On April 9, on the occasion of the 40th day of mourning for the assassination of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the hands of the U.S./Israeli aggressors, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei delivered a message to the Iranian people. He underscored that the loss of the former leader was a "heavy and historic blow" to the Iranian nation and that the crimes committed by the U.S./Israeli aggressors will be avenged.

"We will certainly not leave the criminal aggressors who attacked our country unpunished," he said, adding that Iran will "demand compensation for all damages, as well as the blood of the martyrs and the wounded."

Iran's Supreme leader also served notice that the management of the Strait of Hormuz has entered "a new phase" as a result of the war, affirming Iran's strategic control of the waterway.

As Iran was set to enter into negotiations with the U.S. in Islamabad, Pakistan, Khamenei also warned that Iran remains ready to respond decisively to any renewed aggression.

(With files from Anadolu Agency.)

Iranian Military Keeps Its Finger on the Trigger

Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref praised his country's "proud and historic" victory in the 40-day war with the U.S. and Israel, stressing the necessity for the country's Armed Forces to keep their "finger on the trigger" in case of further hostility by the United States and Israel. In a statement released on April 8, Aref said "While appreciating the honourable positions of the Pakistani government and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, I declare that we will actively participate in the Islamabad talks with full authority, and of course with absolute pessimism regarding the deceptive nature of the U.S., in order to consolidate battlefield achievements on the diplomatic level." Aref's caution was fully borne out by Israel's denial that Lebanon is part of the ceasefire, as it continues its brutal crimes against the Lebanese people.

The Iranian military has clearly taken heed and not let its guard down. On April 11 it foiled the U.S. attempt to send two warships through the Strait of Hormuz as high-level ceasefire negotiations between Iran and the U.S. were underway in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Press TV reports that the USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) and USS Frank E. Peterson (DDG 121), both Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, attempted to transit the strategic waterway. They were easily spotted and intercepted by Iranian naval forces. They were forced to retreat within 30 minutes or face complete destruction, having been targeted with cruise missiles upon arrival at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. Press TV further informs that the failed operation was specifically designed to exploit the ceasefire in order to test the readiness of Iran's naval forces.

The U.S. warships used electronic warfare tactics to try to escape detection. This included turning off their position reporting system to present themselves as commercial vessels belonging to Oman transiting the southern part of the Sea of Oman, Press TV's investigation revealed.

Israel's Criminal Escalation of War on Lebanon

Beirut, Lebanon hit by massive wave of Israeli airstrikes, April 8, 2026

Following the announcement of the ceasefire with Iran, Israel massively escalated its attacks on Lebanon and vowed to continue its war on that country. During the afternoon of April 8, Israel conducted a huge wave of airstrikes which hit over 100 targets in 10 minutes, in "the largest coordinated strike across Lebanon" since Israel resumed full-scale military operations to occupy southern Lebanon in March. The strikes targeted Beirut, Beqaa and southern Lebanon. Similar crimes by Israel, especially in southern Lebanon, have continued since then.

No sooner had the U.S. agreed to Iran's terms that clearly laid out for the world to see that Lebanon was part of the ceasefire it reached with Iran on April 8, than it began to prevaricate, with both the U.S. and Israel making statements that Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire agreement. Indeed U.S. President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu all declared Israel's war on Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire agreement.

"The ceasefire includes the region, and Israel is known for breaking promises and will only be deterred by bullets," an official of the Iranian government said. Hezbollah issued a statement addressed to "the most honourable people, to the patient, steadfast and sacrificing people of the Resistance, to the resilient people of the South, the proud Bekaa and the defiant southern suburb [of Beirut]. Today, we stand on the threshold of a great historic victory, one that will be achieved thanks to the sacrifices of the fighters, the blood of the martyrs and your unmatched resilience and patience."

Hezbollah urged displaced residents to exercise caution in this critical moment, stressing the need for "more patience and steadfastness." The statement warned that "this treacherous and brutal enemy, seeking to escape the image of its defeat, may resort to treacherous attempts to fabricate an illusion of achievement it failed to secure on the battlefield." Hezbollah addressed displaced citizens, saying they would soon return "to your villages and homes with pride, heads held high, dignified and victorious, as you have always been."

(Photos: Quds, Al Mayadeen)

Militant Actions in Canada Condemn Trump's Threats to Destroy Iran and Israel's Ongoing Attacks on Lebanon

Toronto, April 7, 2026 emergency action

In Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto, hundreds of people came out on short notice to join emergency actions on April 7 in support of the Iranian resistance to U.S./Israeli attacks in the hours before the ceasefire agreement was announced.

The actions were in response to U.S. President Trump's threat to carry out bombing of Iran to "destroy an entire civilization" if Iran did not open the Strait of Hormuz to shipping immediately. The spirit was defiant, expressing unity with the heroic Iranian people who had come out in their millions to form human chains to protect power plants and other public infrastructure.

Slogans demanded that the U.S. get out of the Middle East including Hands off Iran! and From Tehran to Beirut, Defy the U.S. War Machine! with many others supporting the heroic Resistance fighters in Palestine and Lebanon. They called on the Carney government to impose an immediate two-way arms embargo and to cease all support for U.S./Israeli war crimes in the Middle East.

In Toronto in response to a call by the Iranian Canadian Congress, the Palestinian Youth Movement and others, a militant action was held at the Israeli consulate on April 8. It denounced the escalation of attacks on Lebanon and demanded that the U.S. and Israel respect the ceasefire throughout the region.

Montreal, April 8, 2026 action against Israeli attacks on Lebanon

Ottawa, emergency demonstration, April 8, 2026

Toronto action at Israeli consulate, April 8, 2026

(Photos: TML, PYM, Protest Montreal)

For Your Information

Iran's Declaration of "Historic and Crushing Defeat" of U.S. and Israel

Across Iran people take to the streets April 9, 2026 for ceremonies marking the 40th day of mourning for Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei

On April 8, Iran declared a "historic and crushing defeat" of the United States and the Israeli regime after 40 days of war. "Iran has achieved a great victory and has forced criminal America to accept its own 10-point proposal," the statement issued by Iran's Supreme National Security Council read. "Iran and the Resistance have almost completely destroyed the American military machine in the region," it stated. "They have inflicted crushing and deep blows on the vast infrastructure and capabilities that the enemy had built and deployed around the region over many years for this war against Iran."

"We congratulate all the people of Iran on this victory," the statement read, "and emphasize that until the details of this victory are finalized, there remains a need for the resilience and prudence of officials and the preservation of unity and solidarity among the people of Iran."

According to the statement, the United States agreed to a 10-point proposal that fundamentally commits it to:

- No new aggression against Iran
- Continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz
- Acceptance of enrichment
- Removal of all primary sanctions
- Removal of all secondary sanctions
- Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions
- Termination of all resolutions from the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors
- Payment of compensation to Iran
- Withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region
- Cessation of war on all fronts, including against the heroic Islamic Resistance of Lebanon

Ceremony marking the 40th day of mourning for Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, April 9, 2026

Israeli Media Admits Defeat

The U.S./Israeli war has ended in a "decisive victory for Iran," with both the U.S. and Israel conceding to a "strategic surrender" and retreating from the battlefield, Israel's Maariv newspaper admitted. The report underscored the "massive defeat" of the U.S. and Israeli forces, which would carry long-term consequences, particularly in Lebanon, and would bolster Iran's regional position in the Persian Gulf for years to come. The Israeli newspaper also emphasized that Iran has imposed a deal largely of its own design on the U.S., rejecting Trump's proposal.

(Photos: Farsnews)

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