After a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton Saturday night, President Trump—who was rushed out of the room by the Secret Service after gunshots—was asked whether his war in Iran could have been a motive. “I don’t think so, but you never know,” he replied, adding that more information about the shooter’s motives, and that the suspect is in custody, would be released when available.
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, plans to return to Islamabad on Sunday after completing a planned trip to Oman, according to Iranian state media. Pakistan has emerged as a mediator in the conflict and has hosted previous talks; Araghchi has not confirmed whether he will meet U.S. officials for potential peace negotiations.
Trump on Saturday canceled the U.S. negotiating team’s planned second trip to Pakistan shortly after Araghchi left, saying he had rejected a new Iranian peace proposal. Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, told Pakistan’s prime minister that Iran would not enter “forced negotiations” under pressure, threats, or a blockade.
World leaders and officials sent well-wishes after the Correspondents’ Dinner shooting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on X he was shocked by what he called an “attempted assassination” and was relieved the president and first lady were safe. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, a mediator between Iran and the U.S., strongly condemned the violence and expressed relief that Trump, Vice President Vance and the first lady were safe.
Araghchi met Oman’s Sultan Haitham this weekend; Omani media reported the sultan emphasized dialogue and diplomacy as the primary tools for resolving complex issues. Turkey’s foreign minister held a phone call with U.S. negotiators, according to Turkish state media.
Fighting continues in Lebanon despite a temporary ceasefire that President Trump said was extended for three weeks. Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the Israeli military to “vigorously attack Hezbollah targets” in Lebanon. Both sides have reported attacks: Israel has carried out near-daily airstrikes in southern Lebanon, which the Lebanese health ministry says have killed at least two dozen people since the ceasefire began, including journalist Amal Khalil. Hezbollah says it fired rockets into northern Israel in response to alleged Israeli violations.
Many in Lebanon are closely watching the status of U.S.-Iran peace talks, concerned that a collapse of negotiations could reignite broader conflict.
Reporting contributions: Kat Lonsdorf in Beirut, Jane Arraf in Amman, Durrie Bouscaren in Istanbul, and Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg.