Yemen's Houthi rebels launch fresh attacks on Saudi-backed government troops, says Yemeni state media, as Cruz says Trump must seek "regime collapse."

Iran has criticised the newly signed Mecca Joint Defence Agreement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Tehran says lasting security depends on policy changes, not military partnerships.

In April, the Pakistani government hosted in Islamabad the first direct US-Iran talks in decades. They culminated in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in June by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Trump.

The negotiations between the US and Iran are “ongoing” to restore stability, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said at a weekly briefing in Islamabad.

Donald Trump expects the conflict to end soon but acknowledged problems with supplies of some weapons. Iran is meanwhile considering legislation to bar US, Israeli and other “hostile” vessels from the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan, Aug. 6 -- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Wednesday, reaffirmed that Pakistan highly valued its close and brotherly ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The two sides held detailed talks on strengthening cooperation and expanding economic ties between the neighbouring countries.

Pakistan and Iran agreed to deepen economic cooperation and push for $10B bilateral trade by keeping border crossings open 24/7, improving logistics, streamlining customs, and accelerating negotiations for a Pakistan-Iran FTA.