Pakistan top court orders Imran Khan to be moved to hospital from jail, says his party

Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered former Prime Minister Imran Khan to be moved from jail to a hospital on Tuesday, according to his PTI party. Khan has been in jail since August 2023, after he was convicted in a string of cases that he claims were politically driven following his ouster. “It’s a very welcome ‌order, and we wish it had happened sooner so his eye and general health would not have deteriorated this much,” PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari said, according to news agency Reuters. “He should remain in hospital until all doctors are satisfied,” he said. The top court directed the former Pak PM to be moved to Shifa International Hospital ⁠within 48 hours and remain there until September 16, Khan’s spokesperson Naeem Haider Panjutha ⁠said on ‌X.

‘Very positive’ US-Iran talks ongoing, says Trump’s envoy

The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) said it had received a report of an incident in the Strait of Hormuz, with a vessel struck by an unidentified projectile while making an outbound transit. The strike damaged the ship’s engine room and left one crew member dead, UKMTO said, adding that the rest of the crew were being helped by the Omani Coast Guard. The incident comes as the US-Iran memorandum aimed at de-escalating hostilities lapsed without renewal, with President Trump telling Fox News on Monday that Tehran should raise the “white flag” in the five-month US-Israel conflict.

Despite claiming to have opened a direct backchannel with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, Trump said he’s in no rush to strike a deal, even as he threatened military action against US ally Oman if it interferes with reopening the blockaded Strait of Hormuz a threat that lands as Iran and Oman work on a joint arrangement to keep the waterway open to commercial shipping.

Amid the rising tensions, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan pressed Trump in a phone call on Tuesday to pursue diplomacy, offering Ankara’s support for peace efforts, according to the Turkish presidency. The call came hours after a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran would shift to a “fully offensive” military posture, with talks on a permanent end to the war having stalled and Washington ruling out extending the ceasefire.

The 5 things to know:

• Trump demands Iran “surrender,” claims backchannel talks with Revolutionary Guard.
• US-Iran memorandum of understanding expires without renewal.
• Trump threatens to bomb Oman over Strait of Hormuz dispute.
• Iran signals shift to “fully offensive” posture as talks stall.
• Vessel struck by projectile while transiting Strait of Hormuz.

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