Iran, US, Israel War Ceasefire News Live Updates: Iran FM Araghchi to hold bilateral talks on visit to Pakistan, says report
Iran, US, Israel War Ceasefire News Live Updates: Islamabad is once again the centre of the diplomatic world as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi heads to Pakistan today, signalling a high-stakes push to revive stalled ceasefire negotiations between Tehran and Washington. While the war continues to rattle global energy markets, a glimmer of progress emerged from the White House, where President Donald Trump announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
However, the “peace” remains incredibly fragile. Even as the extension was announced, the Israeli military called for evacuations in southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah claimed to have downed an Israeli Hermes 450 drone. Meanwhile, the US Pentagon is maintaining a hard line, warning of “shoot and kill” orders for any Iranian vessels attempting to mine the Strait of Hormuz, which remains a primary chokehold on the global economy.
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Iran-US war ceasefire: Here are the latest developments
Diplomatic shuttle: Iran’s Abbas Araghchi is travelling to Pakistan, Oman, and Russia. Pakistan has been acting as the primary intermediary, though a second round of direct US-Iran talks in Islamabad has yet to be formally scheduled.
Lebanon extension: President Trump confirmed that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 21-day extension of their current truce. Despite this, the IDF has ordered residents of the village of Deir Aames to evacuate, citing its use as a launch site for Hezbollah attacks.
Strait of Hormuz standoff: Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth labelled the war a “gift to the world” in its potential to end the Iranian threat, while simultaneously slamming European allies as “freeriders” for not contributing more to naval security.
Market volatility: Tech stocks surged on Wall Street following a blowout profit report from Intel, but Brent crude remains volatile, hovering around $104 per barrel as traders weigh the blockade’s impact against news of potential diplomacy.
Maritime seizures: The US Central Command confirmed it is still holding crews from three seized merchant vessels. Officials revealed the Navy fired warning shots and “disabling fire” into the engine room of the tanker Tousca earlier this week after it ignored repeated warnings.
Zelenskyy in Saudi Arabia: In a parallel diplomatic track, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Saudi Arabia for the second time in a month. He is seeking to finalise energy and security agreements with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, bolstered by a fresh 90 billion-euro loan guarantee from European leaders.
Total War Cost
$28B–$35B
Day 1–2 Spend
$5.6B
Targets Struck
13,000+
Assets Lost
~12
Munitions Fired · Bar = est. total cost expended (max ~$4.8B)
🚀
Patriot Missiles
1,200 fired · $4M+ each · 2× 2025 output
MISSILE
est. total
⚓
Tomahawk Cruise
1,000+ fired · $2.5M each · 10× annual buy
MISSILE
est. total
🏹
JASSM-ER
~1,100 fired · $1.1M each · 600-mile range
MISSILE
est. total
🎯
PrSM / ATACMS
1,000+ fired · unit cost not reported
MISSILE
no cost data
Aerial Assets Lost / Damaged · Bar = unit or combined cost (max $275M)
🚁
MC-130 + MH-6
5 destroyed · self-demo · Iran rescue op
AIRCRAFT
combined
📡
E-3 Sentry AWACS
1 damaged · only 16 remain in fleet
AIRCRAFT
per unit
✈️
F-15 Fighter Jets
3 destroyed · friendly fire by Kuwait
AIRCRAFT
no cost data
Cost Asymmetry · Bar = unit cost per weapon (max $4M US interceptor)
🛡️
US Patriot Interceptor
Deployed to neutralise Shahed drones
US
per unit
🔴
Iranian Shahed Drone
Kamikaze · Exhausts US air defence systems
IRAN
per unit
| WEAPON / ASSET | TYPE | USED / LOST | UNIT COST | EST. TOTAL | REMAINING | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🚀 | Patriot Missiles | Missile | 1,200 | $4M+ | ~$4.8B | — |
| 🏹 | JASSM-ER | Missile | ~1,100 | $1.1M | ~$1.2B | ~1,500 |
| ⚓ | Tomahawk Cruise | Missile | 1,000+ | $2.5M | ~$2.5B | 3,000 |
| 🎯 | PrSM / ATACMS | Missile | 1,000+ | — | — | — |
| 📡 | E-3 Sentry AWACS | Aircraft | 1 damaged | $270M | $270M | 16 in fleet |
| 🚁 | MC-130 + MH-6 | Aircraft | 5 destroyed | — | $275M | — |
| ✈️ | F-15 Fighter Jets | Aircraft | 3 destroyed | — | — | — |
| 🛡️ | US Patriot Interceptor | vs Shahed | — | $4M+ | — | — |
| 🔴 | Iranian Shahed Drone | vs US Air Def. | — | $30,000 | — | — |
Pentagon Estimate · Total War Cost
$28B – $35B
The Asymmetry Problem
🚀
US Patriot Interceptor
Fired to neutralise Shahed drones · 1,200 used · 600 produced in all of 2025
$4M+
▼ fired to neutralise ▼
🔴
Iranian Shahed Drone
Kamikaze · Saturates US air defence · Mirrors Russia’s Ukraine strategy
$30K
133×
A US interceptor costs 133 times more than the drone it destroys
US Counter-Response
🛸
LUCAS — Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System
Reverse-engineered from Shahed · US-developed low-cost counter-drone
$35K
Reconstitution Timeline
📉
Patriot Replenishment
600 produced in all of 2025 · 1,200 fired · Congressional funding still pending
2 yrs+
📉
Tomahawk Replenishment
1,000+ fired · ~10× the annual US buy rate · 3,000 remain in storage
10 yrs+
Sources: New York Times · Wall Street Journal · CSIS · Cost estimates based on publicly reported figures · Est. totals are indicative · Data as of April 2026
