After gunfire erupted at the Washington Hilton during Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, President Trump — who was escorted out by the Secret Service — said he did not believe his war in Iran was the shooter’s motive. “I don’t think so, but you never know,” he said, adding that the suspect is in custody and that more information about motives will be released when available.
Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, completed a visit to Oman and plans to return to Islamabad on Sunday, Iranian state media reported. Pakistan, which has acted as a mediator in the dispute and hosted earlier talks, has become a focal point for possible further negotiations; Araghchi has not confirmed whether he will meet U.S. officials during his stop in Pakistan.
Shortly after Araghchi left, the White House canceled the U.S. negotiating team’s planned second trip to Pakistan. Trump said he had rejected a new Iranian peace proposal. Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, told Pakistan’s prime minister that Tehran would not enter “forced negotiations” under pressure, threats, or a blockade.
Leaders around the world sent messages after the shooting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on X he was shocked by what he called an “attempted assassination” and expressed relief that the president and first lady were unharmed. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, a mediator between Iran and the United States, condemned the violence and said he was relieved that Trump, Vice President Vance and the first lady were safe.
During his Oman visit, Araghchi met Sultan Haitham; Omani media reported that the sultan stressed dialogue and diplomacy as the primary means to resolve complex disputes. Turkish state media said Turkey’s foreign minister held a phone call with U.S. negotiators about the situation.
The tenuous ceasefire in Lebanon, which President Trump said had been extended for three weeks, showed signs of strain. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the military to “vigorously attack Hezbollah targets” in Lebanon. Both sides reported strikes: Israel 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 said it fired rockets into northern Israel in response to alleged Israeli violations.
Many people in Lebanon are closely watching the status of U.S.-Iran peace talks, fearing that a breakdown in negotiations could reignite wider conflict across the region.
Reporting contributions: Kat Lonsdorf in Beirut, Jane Arraf in Amman, Durrie Bouscaren in Istanbul, and Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg.