Trump's ceasefire deal with Iran is collapsing due to Israel's continued bombing in Lebanon. Although the US stated Lebanon was outside the scope of the deal, Iran resumed blocking traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, impacting global energy supply. This indicates that the conditions Trump promised for ending the war are not being met.
Italian PM Meloni welcomed and strongly supported the initiation of direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon. The Italian government condemned Hezbollah's actions and affirmed its continued support for the talks. She also stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate the success of negotiations involving the US, Iran, and Israel.
A Hezbollah MP rejected direct talks between Israel and Lebanon, demanding adherence to a ceasefire as a precondition. Prime Minister Netanyahu announced the start of direct negotiations aimed at disarming Hezbollah and establishing peace. The US President stated that Israel would scale back its attacks in Lebanon.
Following Israeli attacks on Lebanon, Israel ordered direct negotiations with Lebanon to focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peace. Israel's military actions threaten the permanent ceasefire talks scheduled between the US and Iran this weekend. Iran urged the US to stop Israeli strikes in Lebanon, insisting that regional peace must include Lebanon.
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon killed 303 people on Wednesday, bringing the total death toll since March 2 to 1,888. Despite a two-week ceasefire announcement between the US and Iran, the Israeli military escalated strikes across Lebanon. Pakistani mediators claimed Lebanon was included in the truce, but Washington and Tel Aviv denied this.
Iran's Foreign Ministry stated that participation in war-ending talks hinges on a full ceasefire commitment from the US President. It emphasized that halting hostilities in Lebanon is an integral part of any ceasefire arrangement. Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Minister urged global readiness against potential Israeli actions that could undermine the recent temporary US-Iran ceasefire.
Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad stated the group opposes direct negotiations with Israel, insisting the Lebanese government must condition talks on a ceasefire. He stressed that Israeli troop withdrawal and the return of displaced persons are prerequisites for any dialogue. This statement comes despite Israeli PM Netanyahu's directive to initiate direct talks.
A Hezbollah lawmaker reiterated his group's rejection of direct talks between Lebanon and Israel. Hezbollah insisted on Israeli withdrawal and cessation of hostilities as prerequisites. The Lebanese government also stated that a ceasefire must precede any talks with Israel.
Amid ongoing Israeli bombardments of Lebanon, the US and Iran maintain a temporary ceasefire while engaging in diplomatic talks. Iran has presented a 10-point peace plan to the US, including guarantees against future aggression and recognition of Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz. Experts suggest the negotiations are tenuous, requiring a more strategic outcome like halting the nuclear program.
Israel announced it will begin direct talks with Lebanon, aiming to disarm Hezbollah and establish peaceful relations. This comes amid Israel's continued military operations in Lebanon despite a recent US-Iran ceasefire agreement. The Iranian President warned that Israel's military actions violate the ceasefire and could lead to retaliation.