“Our messages and the explanation of our conditions have been clearly conveyed to the other party through mediators,” said Iran’s chi­ef negotiator in talks to end the war.

“As long as the conditions are not met… and the US commitments are not honoured, it will be impossible to return to the situation from before the negotiations and to an open strait,” he added.

In a post on X, Mr Ghalibaf wrote, “It’s Schrödinger: the em­­pire is in the SOH [Strait of Hor­muz] cabinet with falling plates, projecting hegemony but fully exposed, trying to suffocate Iran without blowback (impossible).”

“This endgame cannot be modelled. It will be opened, and Iran’s hand is already on the lever,” he said, sharing a recent note by JPMorgan wherein analysts said they “simply don’t know how to model the endgame” to the oil market crisis.

Also, Mohsen Rezaei, the head of supreme national security council, earlier said Iran had conveyed its conditions to the US via mediator Qatar. “Our conditions are an end to the war on all fronts, the release of our frozen funds and an end to the naval blockade,” he said, in an interview with Al Jazeera.

He warned that the US would face an Iran that was better prepared than at the start of the war.

The Iranian security chief said Iran had increased the speed of its hypersonic missiles from Mach-6 to Mach-10, improved air defences and developed electronic warfare systems. “Therefore should war break out again, US ships, unless they withdraw from the Indian Ocean, will be subject to attack.”

Also, Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central military command warned that if the US made a mistake in dealing with Iran, all of its bases and interests in the region would become the target of continuous, effective and painful attacks, without any limit or restraint.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2026

• Police say regulations for HTV licences in place, 7m violations committed by goods vehicles this year

ISLAMABAD: As their vehicles are once again being used to stop protesters from reaching Islamabad, truckers have said the government move has not only “paralysed” the economy but also adds to a litany of their existing grievances.

An estimated 400,000 goods vehicles, excluding oil tankers and mini trucks, form the backbone of the logistics network that caters to all major industries and employs millions of people through direct and indirect jobs, they said, adding that despite being a key sector of the economy, they were unfairly treated by the government.

They alleged “unfair taxes”, “routine seizure of trucks and containers”, “poor road network”, “excesses by the police and regional transport authorities”, and issues surrounding the HTV licences. The motorway and traffic police denied most of their allegations, including the absence of a proper licensing regime, in separate versions shared with Dawn.

It may be noted that goods transporters routinely go on strike to press the government for their demands, most recently in August over daily fuel prices and axle-load limits, among other issues. Their ability to disrupt the entire supply chain often results in the acceptance of their demands, but these remain stopgap measures.

All Pakistan Good Transport Owners Association President Imdad Hussain Naqvi said they were the government’s “least priority” despite serving “more than 30 million people every day”. He said their trucks and containers had been seized two weeks before the Sept 27 long march.

“This practice has paralysed the country’s economy. The long march will be staged on Sept 27, but our vehicles and containers were confiscated more than two weeks ago,” he rued.

Accompanied by the office-bearers of other associations, Mr Naqvi said that instead of the Ministry of Communications, there must be a separate ministry for transportation. He also said that unless they were given the status of a full-fledged industry, their problems would persist.

Mr Naqvi complained that 90 per cent of the truck drivers had LTV driving licences due to an “overly complicated process of converting LTV into HTV licence”, a claim denied by the traffic police.

He also talked about the condition of roads across the country, “excessive” taxes and fines, alleged bribes by the regional transport authorities (RTA), and delays in the issuance of provincial route permits.

All Pakistan Friends Traders and Trucks/Dumpers Owners Association President Muhammad Rafiq Khan accused weighing stations of overloading trucks in return for heavy bribes. He claimed their letters to the communications ministry remained unanswered. Transport Alliance Chairman Malik Shafaullah Awan said a truck paid Rs35,000 in terms of toll tax from Karachi to Lahore on N-5 (GT Road), besides the petroleum levy on diesel.

Police deny allegations

Meanwhile, a motorway police spokesperson denied most of the allegations and said the police continued to undertake sustained and effective enforcement measures against Goods Transport Vehicles (GTVs) to ensure compliance with traffic laws and promote road safety.

Since January 2026, during the enforcement process, over 7 million traffic violations committed by goods vehicles have been identified, checked and dealt with as per law, the spokesperson said, adding that approximately 692,225 violations related to axle load have been identified and dealt with as per law.

There is a proper licensing mechanism for HTVs under the NHMP Drivers Licensing Authority Rules 2014 that specifically prescribe the procedure and eligibility requirements.

The National Highways Authority, however, acknowledged the dilapidated state of roads due to the paucity of funds.

“We have 14,480 kilometres of roads across Pakistan and the total income NHA fetched through toll was Rs128bn last year; besides, we only get Rs9bn from the government for road maintenance,” NHA General Manager Aftab Badar added.

The official said the NHA has to spend its funds on those roads too where it did not get income. “Our 42 per cent of funds are utilised in Balochistan but we received very minimal toll tax from there,” he added.

NHA GM (revenue) Ahmed Hassan said NHA denied that any NHA toll plazas were running on an interim basis and added that out of 183 toll plazas, 63 were under the control of Frontier Works Organisation, and 120 were supervised by the NHA.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2026

WASHINGTON: The United States issued fresh security warnings for Americans in the Middle East on Sunday, cautioning that the security environment remained volatile and could face an “unforeseen escalation” as President Donald Trump considers his next steps in the war with Iran.

Trump cut short a weekend at Camp David, returning unannounced to the White House on Saturday evening as the White House offered no explanation for the abrupt change of plan, which comes just days before he is due in New York for the UN General Assembly.

The warnings, circulated through US diplomatic missions in the region, urged Americans currently in the Middle East to exercise heightened vigilance and prepare for possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and other travel disruptions.

Americans outside the region were advised to “seriously reconsider travel to and through the region”.

“Due to tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” the State Department said in its alerts.

“Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including civilian airports. This military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also cut short his US visit and returned to Israel, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the region.

Trump’s next move

Trump has indicated that he faces a major decision over whether to intensify the conflict. The US president told Fox News that he is in “deciding mode” on Iran and “big things will be happening in the not-so-distant future”.

According to network’s Trey Yingst, the president outlined the options as “wiping Iran out, letting them rot economically, or making a deal”. Trump reportedly added, “My question is, if and when do I blow the entire nation up? They [Iranians] better behave.”

When asked about meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who will be attending the UN General Assembly in New York this week, Trump said he would ‘probably be open’ to it.

In an interview with Axios earlier this week, Trump said: “I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them, or do I not? It’s a big decision. Anything could happen with me.”

On the other hand, Trump reiterated that Houthis agreed not to attack the United States, Fox News reported.

He also claimed a week ago the Houthis were holding back from attacking US forces in the region. “The Houthis called us and they don’t want to fight with us,” Trump said during a visit to Ireland on Sept 12. “They don’t want us to go after them.”

Sustained retaliation

Meanwhile, Iran warned on Sunday against any big new attack by the US and its allies, saying it had information such a move was being prepared, adding to the anxiety in a region already on edge.

Iran’s military central command said on state media that any new attack would trigger sustained retaliation against US bases and interests and that Washington’s regional allies would be considered parties to the conflict. It did not elaborate on the information it said it had about a coming US attack.

Mediatory role

Meanwhile, briefing journalists ahead of the 81st UN General Assembly session, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said that Islamabad will stress its mediatory role amid the widening Middle East crisis during the high-level week of the UN General Assembly.

He said that PM Shehbaz Sharif’s address on the 25th would present Pakistan’s perspective on the evolving regional and international security environment and emphasising dialogue, diplomacy, restraint and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

Pakistan, the ambassador said, would also use the high-level week to underline its constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability and its resolve to work with UN member states to uphold the UN Charter, strengthen multilateralism, prevent conflict and advance international cooperation.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Information Min­ister Attaullah Tarar on Sunday said the government would not allow any violent group to reach Islamabad or block roads, as ministers warned of the legal, economic and law-and-order consequences of upcoming protests by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Jamaat-i-Islami.

Speaking to the media, Mr Tarar said the planned protests had both legal and administrative aspects, stressing that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had clearly ruled against road closures and disruption to public movement.

He said it was now the responsibility of the administration to ens­ure that no such disruption took place. “No violent group will be all­owed to reach Islamabad,” he said.

“The administration, police, interior minister and entire government are absolutely clear” on the matter, he said, adding that protesters intending to cause disruption would not be allowed to reach the capital and roads would remain open.

Mr Tarar said the government remained in contact with JI at different levels, including its top leadership. He described the party’s leaders as peaceful and flexible but stressed that the law applied equally to everyone and roads could not be blocked.

The remarks come as PTI prepares for a nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad on Sept 27 to press for the release of its incarcerated founder Imran Khan, while JI has launched a protest campaign against the petroleum levy and plans to head towards the federal capital.

Rs120bn daily loss feared

Separately, Finance Minister Muha­mmad Aurangzeb warned that strikes, sit-ins, long marches and road closures could inflict an estimated Rs120 billion loss on the economy every day at a time when it was moving from stability towards growth.

In a recorded message, Mr Aurangzeb said economic indicators had been moving in a positive direction after difficult decisions and considerable effort.

“Suspension of economic activities due to strikes, sit-ins, long marches and closure of roads could be a self-inflicted loss,” he said, adding that the burden would ultimately be borne by ordinary people, small traders and shopkeepers.

Citing estimates prepared jointly by the Planning Commission and Ministry of Finance, he said the services sector — including financial services, communication, retail, transportation, wholesale and hospitality — could suffer the largest daily loss of around Rs86bn.

The industrial sector could lose around Rs25bn, including losses in construction, finished goods, raw materials and supply chains, while agriculture could suffer losses of Rs9bn. An additional revenue loss of about Rs17bn a day was also expected in case of disruption to economic activity.

Mr Aurangzeb said businesses and exporters were already facing pressures from disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, higher freight and insurance costs, while the country was also confronting a fresh wave of terrorism.

He warned that fresh political disruption could undermine the government’s export-led growth plans. The export target for the current fiscal year stood at $35.9bn, with growth of six per cent expected, he said.

“We have been on trajectory for the first two months,” he said, recalling that the economy had taken around one and a half months to recover from losses caused by a strike in December 2025.

He also pointed to the possible impact on IT exports, saying they stood at $811 million during July and August, averaging around $13m a day. He said internet connectivity disruptions during previous episodes of civil disobedience had affected IT exports by as much as 80pc.

The finance minister said it was his responsibility to present the facts, figures and possible downside of what he described as “self-inflicted pain” and called for dialogue to resolve outstanding and political issues.

Concern over PTI remarks

Meanwhile, Minister for Parli­amentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said recent statements by PTI leaders regarding their planned march towards Islamabad had raised concerns about possible violence.

Speaking to a private television channel, he referred to a reported statement by a senior PTI leader that the protesters were coming to make Islamabad “Somnath”.

Mr Chaudhry described the remark as a threat and said the government had a responsibility to protect the federal capital, maintain peace and ensure that normal life was not disrupted.

“Islamabad is the city of all Pakistanis, and no one will be allowed to deteriorate its law-and-order situation,” he said.

Asked about JI’s protests, Mr Chaudhry said the party had no history of protests turning violent or undermining law and order.

He said the government had held several rounds of talks with JI over the issue and expressed hope that the matter would be resolved through dialogue.

With additional input from APP

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2026