Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, announced on Thursday that he is seeking direct talks with Beirut, one day after the deadliest bombing in the ongoing conflict killed over 250 people in Lebanon and threatened the ceasefire brokered by Donald Trump between the United States and Iran.
Trump declared a ceasefire in the six-week Iran conflict late Tuesday, just hours before a deadline after which he threatened to destroy Iran’s civilization, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities prepared for the first round of US-Iran talks, blocking the capital Islamabad. Despite these diplomatic moves, Iran has not lifted its near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, causing the worst disruption to global energy supply in history. Israel’s ongoing strikes in Lebanon have been cited as a key sticking point.
During the first 24 hours of the ceasefire, only one oil tanker and five bulk cargo ships passed through the strait, which normally accommodated 140 ships per day before the conflict—representing roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows.
Netanyahu, whose government had rejected a historic offer for direct talks with Lebanon last month, stated that he has issued instructions to begin peace negotiations as soon as possible. These talks would include the disarmament of the Hezbollah militant group, which is backed by Iran.
