Iran Demands Ceasefire In Lebanon And Asset Release Before Pakistan Talks With US

The United States and Iran prepared to hold peace talks in Islamabad under a two-week ceasefire.

“The United States delegation has departed for Saturday’s planned ceasefire negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan, and Iran’s government confirmed its representatives have already arrived”

Al Jazeera

The Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Araghchi arrived in Islamabad.

Al Jazeera

Vice President JD Vance headed the US delegation.

Iran insisted that a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked assets must be fulfilled before negotiations begin.

Ghalibaf tweeted that two measures mutually agreed upon have yet to be implemented.

Trump re-upped threats against Iran, telling the New York Post they were loading up the ships with the best weapons ever made.

The Rahman Textile factory fire killed garment workers after fire exits were welded shut.

Police detained factory owner Faisal Rahman.

Al-Monitor

Death toll estimates diverged sharply among sources.

Survivors described pounding on locked metal doors as smoke filled the stairwells.

Nasrin Begum told Al Jazeera they could hear screaming but could not reach them.

The Bangladesh Garment Workers' Federation called a nationwide strike.

Rahman Textile produced clothing for European brands including Hessen and BrandBox.

Both companies said they were deeply saddened and would review their operations.

Hessen's compliance team had audited the factory in March.

Clean Clothes Campaign said the audit system was fundamentally broken.

Rahman was being questioned about allegations that emergency exits had been welded shut.