King Charles was overheard in a hot mic moment expressing private concerns that the US-Iran conflict, now in its seventh month, is worsening. He made the remark to Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan's Interior Minister, who is also leading negotiations between Washington and Tehran, while hosting the Pakistan cricket team at Clarence House. The exchange comes at a sensitive moment, as reports suggest Donald Trump is privately weighing whether to declare the conflict over, even as fighting has recently intensified.

Charles told Naqvi "it's all going backwards," to which the diplomat agreed the talks had been "one step forward and one step back" and among the most difficult he had been involved in. Separately, the Wall Street Journal reported Trump now favours ending the war, believing economic pressure will force Iran to abandon its nuclear programme or collapse, despite aides warning that further escalation could hurt Republican prospects in November's midterms. Trump has said strikes could resume "any time," while Iran continued attacking US bases in Kuwait and Jordan, with all missiles intercepted; the King also received a signed cricket bat from the touring Pakistan team, who trail England 2-0 in their series.