Lebanon says it is not aware of planned talks with Israel - reports
Reported damage on a fishing pier in the port of Qeshm island, Iran, backdropped by ships in the Strait of Hormuz Picture; Asghar Besharati/AP
Optimism grew on Thursday that the war in the Middle East may be near an end, with a key Pakistani mediator in Tehran and the administration of President Donald Trump talking up hopes for a deal that would open the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
Israel's cabinet met on Wednesday to discuss a possible ceasefire in neighbouring Lebanon, a senior Israeli official said, more than six weeks into its war with Iran-backed Hezbollah. Mr Trump said talks between leaders of both countries would take place on Thursday, while the Financial Times reported a ceasefire could be announced soon, citing Lebanese officials.
Ending the fighting in Lebanon was a key sticking point in earlier peace talks, along with how to deal with Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
However, some news outlets have reported Lebanese officials as saying they were unaware of any contact or meeting with Israel, after Donald Trump said on social media that Israeli and Lebanese leaders would speak to each other on Thursday.
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AFP news agency reported an official source in Lebanon saying: “We are not aware of any planned contact with the Israeli side, and we have not been informed of any through official channels.”
Al Jazeera also reported an official source in Lebanon saying “there is no information” about a possible phone conversation between Lebanese and Israeli leaders or a second meeting between their ambassadors in Washington following Tuesday’s talks.
In a Truth Social post, the US president said Israeli and Lebanese leaders will hold talks, but he did not provide any other details, and it was not clear if he meant the countries’ heads of state or other officials. There has been no official confirmation of a meeting from Israel or Lebanon.
On Thursday morning, the Israeli military issued another order telling people in southern Lebanon to flee the area due to “ongoing” airstrikes against what it described as Hezbollah targets, in its second such warning in 24 hours.
"We feel good about the prospects of a deal," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a news conference on Wednesday, calling conversations mediated by Pakistan "productive and ongoing."
She denied reports that the US had formally requested an extension of a two-week ceasefire agreed by the two sides on April 8.
More in-person talks had not yet been confirmed but would likely take place in Pakistan again, Ms Leavitt said.
Pakistan's military confirmed Mr Munir had arrived in Tehran. A senior Iranian source told that Mr Munir, who had mediated the last round of talks, would seek "to narrow gaps" between the two sides.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on X, welcoming Mr Munir and saying Tehran was committed to "promoting peace and stability in the region."
Avichay Adraee, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Arabic language spokesperson, have told people south of the Zahrani river to flee their homes, saying: The airstrikes are ongoing as the IDF operates with great force in the area.”
The talks last weekend broke down without an agreement to end the war, which Trump began alongside Israel on February 28, triggering Iranian attacks on Iran's Gulf neighbours as well as reigniting the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Thousands of people have been killed, mostly in Iran and Lebanon, while soaring energy costs have rattled investors and policymakers around the world.
Stock markets have rallied strongly in recent days on expectations of a swift resolution to the fighting, with indexes on Wall Street hitting record highs on Wednesday as crude oil prices steadied.
"While there are hopes for de-escalation, many investors remain sceptical, given that US-Iran talks have repeatedly broken down even after appearing to make progress," said Toshitaka Tazawa, an analyst at Fujitomi Securities.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicted that China's purchase of Iranian oil would "pause" given a US blockade on vessels calling at Iranian ports. He said the US could impose secondary sanctions on countries that purchase Iranian crude.
The US Treasury had warned two Chinese banks not to process Iranian money or face sanctions, he said, without naming the banks. China previously bought more than 80% of Iran's shipped oil.
Mr Trump said on Wednesday he had told Chinese President Xi Jinping not to give Iran weapons, which Mr Xi had said he wasn't. Mr Trump also said that China was very happy he was "permanently opening" the Strait of Hormuz.
"I am doing it for them, also - And the World," he wrote on social media, adding: "President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks."
The war has led Iran to effectively shut the Strait - a vital artery for global crude and gas shipments - to ships other than its own, sharply reducing exports from the Gulf and leaving energy importers scrambling for alternative supplies.
During the first 48 hours of the US blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports, no vessels have made it past US forces, the US military said. Additionally, nine vessels complied with the direction from US forces to turn around and return toward an Iranian port or coastal area.
However, Iran's Fars News agency said an Iranian supertanker subject to US sanctions crossed the strait towards Iran's Imam Khomeini port despite the blockade. Fars did not identify the tanker or give further details of its voyage.
Iran's joint military command warned it would halt trade flows in the Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Red Sea - which connects to the Suez Canal - if the US blockade continued.
Iran could consider allowing ships to sail freely through the Omani side of the strait without risk of attack as part of proposals it has offered in negotiations with the US, providing a deal is clinched to prevent renewed conflict, a source briefed by Tehran said.
Trump has also threatened to escalate if the war resumes.
"We could take out every one of their bridges in one hour. We could take out every one of their power plants, electric power plants, in one hour. We don't want to do that...so we'll see what happens," he told Fox Business Network.
Iran's nuclear ambitions were a key sticking point at last weekend's talks. The US proposed a 20-year suspension of all nuclear activity by Iran - an apparent concession from longstanding demands for a permanent ban - while Tehran suggested a halt of three to five years, according to people familiar with the proposals.
Washington has also pressed for any enriched nuclear material to be removed from Iran, while Tehran has demanded that international sanctions against it be lifted.
One source involved in the talks said back-channel discussions had made progress in narrowing gaps, bringing the two sides closer to a deal that could be presented at a new round of talks.
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