Mohammed Ismail Stresses Key Role of Independents within the Kurdish National Council
ARK News.. Mohammed Ismail, head of the Kurdish National Council in Syria, emphasized the importance of ensuring the success of the Council’s fifth conference, scheduled to be held in the coming period.
In his presence, the local council of Sari Kaniye convened an organizational meeting on Sunday, April 12, 2026, to elect representatives of independent members to the upcoming fifth conference of the Kurdish National Council.
During the meeting, Ismail highlighted the vital and active role played by independent members within the Council, praising their efforts in supporting its organizational and political work.
The meeting resulted in the election of Jamal Saeed Ahmed and Ahmed Ismail as representatives of the independents at the fifth conference.
In conclusion, Ismail expressed his appreciation to the attendees and underscored the necessity of collective efforts to ensure the success of the forthcoming conference.
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U.S. and Iranian Delegations Leave Islamabad Without Agreement
ARK News.. The Iranian negotiating delegation departed Islamabad on Sunday, April 12, 2026, following the conclusion of talks with the United States without reaching an agreement.
The U.S. delegation had left earlier the same day after the round of negotiations—hosted by Pakistan—collapsed after approximately 21 hours, according to J. D. Vance, who led the American team.
Citing the Iranian state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismael Baghaei said: “From the outset, it was natural not to expect an agreement in a single session… no one anticipated that.”
He added that Tehran remains confident that communication channels with Pakistan and other regional partners will continue in the coming period.
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New York Times: Next Step in Iran Talks Lies with Trump
ARK News.. The New York Times reported that the next move in U.S. negotiations with Iran now rests with Donald Trump, who traveled to Florida over the weekend, citing White House officials.
According to the report, “every option carries significant political and strategic costs,” as Washington weighs its next steps.
The newspaper noted that Vice President J. D. Vance had presented Iran with a final offer to end its nuclear program, which Tehran rejected.
It added that Trump’s strategy hinges on the belief that sustained military pressure will force Iran to shift its position. However, Tehran views its resilience as a form of victory, maintaining that its losses have not weakened its stance but rather reinforced it.
The report indicated that Trump’s team is wary of being drawn into prolonged and complex negotiations, while his special envoy Steve Witkoff has argued that Iran should “simply surrender”—a scenario the paper described as unrealistic.
The New York Times also highlighted a core sticking point: Iran’s refusal to fully abandon uranium enrichment, which the United States sees as a persistent pathway to nuclear weapons capability.
Despite 38 days of conflict, the report noted that positions on both sides appear to have hardened rather than softened.
It further stated that Trump’s primary leverage remains the threat of resuming military operations, particularly as the fragile ceasefire is set to expire on April 21. However, restarting hostilities would carry heavy political and economic costs, especially given the war’s impact on energy prices and global inflation.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz was described as the most urgent issue, with Iran using it as a key pressure point alongside demands for compensation over wartime damage and the lifting of sanctions.
While Washington has rejected compensation claims and insists sanctions relief would only come gradually under a deal, the report concluded that both sides believe they emerged victorious from the first phase—Washington due to its military superiority, and Tehran due to its endurance—yet the reality is a political stalemate, with little willingness to compromise, leaving the path ahead open to either prolonged negotiations or renewed escalation.
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KDP Rejects Iraq Presidential Election Process, Refuses to Recognize Outcome
ARK News.. The Political Bureau of the Kurdistan Democratic Party announced on Saturday, April 11, 2026, its rejection of the mechanism used to elect the President of Iraq in the Iraqi Council of Representatives, describing the procedures as outside established legal frameworks.
In an official statement, the party said the parliamentary session was conducted in violation of the Council’s approved internal regulations, noting that the agenda had been set without adherence to proper procedures, constituting what it called a breach of the law.
The statement further argued that the nominated candidate for the presidency did not emerge from the agreed Kurdish mechanism, stressing that the position is a national entitlement of the Kurdish people—not of a single party. It added that the candidate was put forward by a specific party and approved by other Iraqi political blocs.
“Accordingly, we reject this election mechanism and do not consider any individual selected through it to represent the Kurdish majority. We will not engage with him,” the statement said.
The Kurdistan Democratic Party also confirmed that its parliamentary bloc boycotted the session and that its candidate’s name should have been withdrawn from the process following the boycott.
It added that, in order to assess the situation and conduct consultations, members of the party’s bloc in both the Iraqi parliament and the federal government will return to Kurdistan Region.
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Mohammed Ismail Praises Role of Independents Within Kurdish National Council
ARK News.. Mohammed Ismail, head of the Kurdish National Council in Syria, commended the efforts of independent members for their role in supporting the Council’s work and strengthening its organizational and political presence.
During a meeting held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, by the Eastern Qamishlo Local Council of the Kurdish National Council in Syria, attended by Ismail, members convened to elect representatives of independent members to the Council’s fifth conference.
In his remarks, Ismail emphasized the importance of the role played by independent members within the Council, praising their contributions over the past period in reinforcing its institutional and political standing.
The election process resulted in the selection of Mohammed Amin Sheikhmous and Kalistan Ibrahim Rasool as representatives of independents to the upcoming fifth conference.
In closing, Ismail thanked attendees, highlighting their sense of responsibility and underscoring the importance of the next phase, as well as the need for continued collective efforts to ensure the success of the forthcoming conference.
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U.S. Agrees to Release All Frozen Iranian Assets
ARK News.. The United States has officially agreed to release all frozen Iranian assets, according to media reports.
Citing Reuters, a senior Iranian source said on Saturday, April 11, 2026, that the unfreezing of these assets has been directly linked to ensuring safe and smooth maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The source described the move as a “gesture of goodwill” aimed at reaching a comprehensive and final agreement with Iran.
Meanwhile, CNN, citing vessel-tracking data, reported that several ships have begun heading toward the Strait of Hormuz in parallel with the start of U.S.–Iran talks.
However, the network noted that maritime traffic through the strait remains significantly below normal levels.
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Kuwait Defense: Air Defenses Intercept Drone Attacks
ARK News.. The Kuwait Ministry of Defense announced that several members of the National Guard were injured after air defenses intercepted drone attacks—the first such incident in the Gulf since a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran came into effect overnight Tuesday–Wednesday.
In a statement, the ministry said: “The criminal Iranian aggression targeted several vital facilities belonging to the National Guard, resulting in injuries among a number of its personnel, who are currently receiving treatment and are in stable condition.”
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior added that the armed forces “detected and dealt with seven hostile drones within Kuwaiti airspace over the past 24 hours, in accordance with approved procedures.”
According to France Press Agency, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Friday that it had not launched any missiles since the ceasefire took effect.
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Hind Qabawat: 194 Children Returned to Families, 314 Cases Documented
ARK News.. Hind Qabawat, Syria’s Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, announced that 314 cases of children of detainees and forcibly disappeared persons have been documented. These children were placed in state-run care homes during the period of the former regime, while 194 children have so far been reunited with their families.
Qabawat stated that the specialized committee is currently following up on 612 cases of children attached to other families in accordance with Syrian law, while working to verify that none of these cases involve children who had been detained. She added that the investigation covers files from 2011 to 2015, with efforts ongoing to review subsequent years.
The minister explained that these cases are being handled in coordination with the Ministries of Justice, Interior, and Foreign Affairs, due to their legal and international dimensions, alongside cooperation with international experts in archiving and verification. She emphasized that the committee’s mandate is limited to files related to children placed in care homes and does not include criminal investigation tasks.
Qabawat also noted that administrative changes have been introduced in care institutions to ensure staff efficiency, stressing that families of the children are actively involved in the committee’s work and form part of its supporting teams.
She added that communication with families continues through direct meetings and
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Direct Flights Resume from Erbil International Airport to European Destinations
ARK News.. Direct flights from Erbil International Airport to European destinations have officially resumed, according to the head of the Kurdistan Tourism Companies Union.
Lawan Mamundi stated that the program includes operating two direct flights to “Düsseldorf” and Istanbul, starting at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
He added that the flights will operate on a round-trip basis between Erbil Airport and these cities, ensuring the continuity of air traffic and facilitating regular passenger movement in both directions.
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Pakistan Hopes for Lasting Ceasefire Between U.S. and Iran
ARK News.. Pakistan expressed hope that the ongoing talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad will lead to a permanent ceasefire agreement.
According to Russia’s Novosti news agency, Hussein Rahman, special assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister, said: “We are very optimistic that the ceasefire, initially set for 14 or 15 days, will—following the success of this dialogue—turn into a lasting cessation of hostilities and gain broad support across the region.”
The Pakistani official added that he hopes these positive developments will benefit all countries affected by military actions and regional tensions, emphasizing that Pakistan is ready to make every possible effort to support dialogue and diplomatic efforts between the concerned parties.
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