Day 84 of Iran War: US-Iran Talks Progress via Pakistan Mediation

Iran and the US are pressing on with mediated talks to end the conflict, with Iranian media reporting both sides are exchanging messages and draft proposals to establish a formal framework for an agreement.

Al Jazeera correspondent Almigdad Alruhaid in Tehran reported that Pakistani officials are engaged in 'intense mediation activity' between the two countries. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there were 'some good signals' for a possible breakthrough, but President Donald Trump also warned Washington could act 'very decisively' if Iran refuses to give up its uranium stockpile.

Iran:

• Accusations of 'war crimes' at medical research center: Iran accuses the US and Israel of committing 'war crimes' by bombing the Pasteur Institute of Iran early in the war, after The Lancet journal warned the attack severely damaged a key pillar of the country's public health system.
• Thousands rescued from rubble: The Iranian Red Crescent says rescue workers have pulled more than 7,200 people trapped under rubble following US and Israeli attacks, releasing for the first time images of survivors being pulled from destroyed buildings.

War diplomacy:

• 'Red lines' on nuclear program must shift: Doug Bandow, senior fellow at the Cato Institute, said the US and Iran need to move past conflicting 'red lines' on Tehran's nuclear program for talks to advance. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Bandow said both sides must be willing to compromise and continue serious negotiations if they want to avoid escalation and move away from war.
• Rubio sees 'good signals' in talks: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations with Iran have made 'some progress,' while cautioning it remained unclear whether a deal could be reached in the coming days. Rubio said President Trump still favors a diplomatic agreement, but warned Washington has 'other options' if talks fail.
• Pakistan mediation efforts intensify in Tehran: Alruhaid reported that senior Pakistani officials are engaged in 'intense mediation activity' in Tehran as efforts accelerate to prevent escalation. A senior Iranian official said negotiators are close to an agreement and working on draft texts, but another source cautioned it was still too early to say whether a final deal is within reach.

United States:

• US forces at highest readiness: US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group remains at 'highest readiness' in the Arabian Sea, releasing images of fighter jets taking off as Washington maintains pressure on Iran amid mediation efforts.
• US suffers major Reaper drone losses: Iran has destroyed more than two dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones operated by US forces since the conflict began, according to Bloomberg News. The losses are estimated at around $1 billion, nearly 20% of the Pentagon's pre-war inventory. Congressional reports also indicate at least 42 US aircraft have been damaged or destroyed in the conflict, with total estimated losses of nearly $2.6 billion.
• US suspends arms sales to Taiwan: Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told a Senate hearing that Washington has paused a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan to ensure the US has enough ammunition for its military campaign against Iran, a move Senator Mitch McConnell called 'worrisome.'

Lebanon and Palestine:

• Israeli airstrike kills two in southern Lebanon: The Israeli military said it carried out an airstrike that killed two people near the Lebanon-Israel border, after detecting 'suspicious activity' in southern Lebanon.
• US sanctions Hezbollah allies: The US has imposed sanctions on nine individuals accused of helping Hezbollah undermine Lebanese sovereignty and obstruct efforts to disarm the group, including Lebanese politicians, security officials, and Iran's appointed ambassador in Beirut.
• Palestinian envoy condemns aid blockade: Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour said Israel continues to collectively punish more than two million Palestinians through an aid blockade and ongoing attacks, warning the world not to 'get used to seeing Palestinians killed.'
• US calls for humane treatment of flotilla detainees: According to Al Jazeera correspondent Ali Harb, the US State Department said activists detained by Israeli forces after attempting to break the Gaza blockade 'must be treated humanely and in accordance with international law,' while reiterating Washington's opposition to the flotilla movement.