Day 56 of Middle East conflict - Uncertainty remains in US-Iran peace talks | CNN

US envoys will travel to Pakistan for direct talks with Iran, but Iranian semi-official state media has denied reports. • Get the latest updates on the war with Iran here. • Mixed messaging: US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are traveling to Pakistan on Saturday for talks with Iran, according to the White House. Iran’s Abbas Araghchi is in Pakistan to meet with mediators, but his ministry denied a direct meeting is planned with the US, marking the latest instance of conflicting messages from Washington and Tehran. • US on standby: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration has “seen some progress” from Iran. “Everyone will be on standby to fly to Pakistan if necessary,” she said. • Pentagon briefing: US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth railed against European allies, saying the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz “is much more their fight than ours.” • Ceasefire in Lebanon: Israel will continue striking “any threat” in Lebanon, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said Iran-backed Hezbollah is trying to disrupt the peace process during a three-week ceasefire extension. US Central Command, which coordinates A