According to Netanyahu, negotiations with Lebanon will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between the two countries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said that he has instructed his cabinet to begin with direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible”.
“In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to start direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
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The Israeli PM further added that the negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon.
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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also called for direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, saying this is the only solution to achieve a ceasefire.
“The only solution to the situation in Lebanon is to achieve a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, followed by direct negotiations between them,” Aoun said.
The Lebanese President also stated that he was engaged in diplomacy and that his efforts were being seen positively by international actors.
The development follows Israel’s “biggest” strikes on Lebanon since the beginning of its ground invasion, killing over 200 people, including the nephew of Hezbollah chief.
‘Tehran was ready to respond to Israel’s ceasefire violations but Pakistan intervened’
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said that Iran was ready to respond to Israel’s large-scale attacks on Lebanon but a message from Pakistan prevented this.
Speaking to UK’s ITV, Khatibzadeh said, “Last night was very critical. We had no choice but to respond. Then messages came from Pakistan that the Americans could restrain their ally, and we agreed.”
Earlier today, US Vice President JD Vance had said that Israel has offered to restrain its strikes on Lebanon.
“The Israelis have actually offered to check themselves a little bit in Lebanon because they want to make sure that our negotiation is successful,” he said in Budapest.
Vance, however, claimed that Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire agreement and there was a legitimate misunderstanding between the US and Iran on this.
“I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn’t. We never made that promise. We never indicated that would be the case. What we said is that the ceasefire will be focused on Iran and America’s allies, both Israel and the Gulf Arab states,” he said.
Stage set for US-Iran talks in Islamabad
Meanwhile, the stage is almost set for the US and Iran’s direct talks in Islamabad. Delegations of both countries are travelling to the Pakistan capital to hold negotiations for a complete end to the war.
Iran’s 10-point proposal is said to be the basis of the negotiations, although the United States is also pushing for its earlier 15-point plan that was rejected by Tehran.
Iran wants to formalise the end of the war through a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution. Tehran also wants to include Lebanon in the ceasefire as announced by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his ceasefire declaration.
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