Amid fragile US-Iran ceasefire, Israel to begin direct peace talks with Lebanon soon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that his country will begin direct peace talks with Lebanon “as soon as possible”, local media reported. The Israeli PM reportedly ordered immediate discussions with Beirut. The talks are reportedly set to focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between both countries.

"The negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon," said the Israeli PM.

He claimed that the move in response to Lebanon's repeated requests to ​open direct dialogue with Israel.

"I instructed ​the cabinet yesterday to start direct negotiations with ⁠Lebanon as soon as possible," Netanyahu said.

There was no immediate response from the Lebanese side following Netanyahu's statement.

Netanyahu's remarks came roughly an hour after ​Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reportedly said that the only solution to ​the situation in his country is to achieve a ceasefire between Israel ‌and ⁠Lebanon, followed by direct negotiations. The Lebanese leader said that work on a diplomatic track was on in the matter.

The development comes at a time when Israel and Hezbollah are reportedly engaging in confrontation with no active ceasefire currently in place, with Hezbollah launching rockets into northern Israel.

Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter is expected to lead negotiations that are likely to commence in the coming days, according to the report.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump asked Netanyahu to scale back Israel's strikes against Lebanon.

Trump wrote on social media late on Thursday that Iran was doing a "very poor job" of allowing oil to go through ​the strait. "That is not the agreement we have!" he wrote.

US-Iran ceasefire update | All eyes on Strait of Hormuz amid fragile truce

A nascent and fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, agreed by both sides this week, showed some strain on Friday, according to foreign media reports. That was before their negotiations scheduled to take place in Pakistan this weekend.

The US has accused Iran of breaching promises on the Strait of Hormuz. Separately, Iran has ‌claimed that Israel's attacks against Lebanon after the US-Iran ceasefire are in violation of the truce.

Middle East Conflict: Who seeks what?

The Donald Trump 2.0 administration's demands are centred around two conditions: No nuclear powers for Iran and the successful reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump has also tied those demands to regime change and proxy disarmament.

Iran has insisted on halting all of what it describes as defensive operations only if attacks stop. It seeks safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz under its control.

Tehran also demands acceptance of its nuclear enrichment rights and compensation for damages.

Israel vows to intensify strikes until Iran's military threats end. It targets IRGC leaders, nuclear sites, and proxies in Lebanon. It supports America's goals of regime change and Strait reopening.

The US and Israel have said the ceasefire does not include Lebanon. Iran and Pakistan, which acted as mediator in peace talks, maintain that Lebanon was explicitly part of the deal.