Middle East crisis live: Trump says Israel and Lebanon to hold talks Thursday; US hits Iran’s oil sector with new sanctions | US-Israel war on Iran
Opening summary
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of events in the Middle East.
Donald Trump their leaders say Israel And Lebanon Talks are due to take place on Thursday, following the first face-to-face diplomatic talks between the countries in decades.
“I’m trying to create some breathing space between Israel and Lebanon,” the US president said on Truth Social on Wednesday. “It’s been a long time since the two leaders spoke, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow.”
Trump did not say who would be involved or provide further details. The Financial Times, citing Lebanese officials, said a ceasefire could be declared soon.
In previous news, the Israeli prime minister said: Benjamin Netanyahu It was considering a possible ceasefire with Lebanon after pressure from Washington.
Meanwhile, white house Reports that the United States requested an extension of the ceasefire with Iran, which expires next week, were denied. The press secretary said talks between them were “productive and ongoing” Karoline Leavitt he said, and the United States “feels good about the possibility of a deal.”
The United States also announced that it would tighten sanctions on Iran’s oil industry. Oil transport infrastructure will be targeted with sanctions against more than two dozen individuals, companies and ships operating within the oil shipping magnate’s network Muhammad Hossein Shamkhani, Treasury Department said.
In other developments:
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Pakistani army chief meets Iranian foreign minister in Tehran The latest diplomatic push to ease Middle East tensions and hold a second round of US-Iran talks took place on Wednesday. Trump has previously said the war is “very close to being over.”
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Leavitt says second round of US-Iran talks will ‘most likely’ take place again in Islamabad and that Pakistan is the “sole mediator” in the discussions.
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Main Wall Street indices continued their upward rise Optimism regarding the US-Iran deal.
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Israeli security cabinet meets to discuss ceasefire Following US-brokered Israel-Lebanon talks on Tuesday. However, the Israeli army continues to hit the country; Netanyahu said Israel was about to “crush” the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, describing it as a Hezbollah stronghold.
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Four Lebanese rescue workers were killed in consecutive Israeli attacks on the village of Mayfadoun in southern Lebanon. on Wednesday, groups of health officials said. Six more people were injured.
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Centcom, the US military’s Middle East command, said it stopped 10 ships from leaving Iranian ports During the first 48 hours of the US naval blockade. However, ship tracking data showed that at least three ships departing from Iranian ports passed through the Strait of Hormuz, although some ships using the route later turned back.
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Finance ministers of 11 countries, including the UK and Japan, called for “coordinated emergency support” from the IMF and the World Bank. Assisting countries affected by disruptions resulting from the Middle East war.
important events
The US defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will hold a press conference on Thursday morning US time US Department of Defense about the US-Israeli operation against Iran he said on social media.
Pete Hegseth and Gene Dan Caine Operation Epic Fury will hold its raid at 8 a.m. ET (1200 GMT).
Asian stocks mostly higher, oil prices flat on Thursday Expectations that the ceasefire in the Iran war will be extended and hopes for more talks between the United States and Iran.
of Tokyo Nikkei 225 gained 2.4% in value, while South Korea’s kospi Hong Kong rose 2 percent hang Seng rose and Shanghai Composite The index increased by 0.6 percent.
China on Thursday reported 5% economic growth in the January-March quarter, the Associated Press reported; This means an acceleration compared to the previous quarter
While economists say China has largely shrugged off the initial effects of the Iran war, some warn that China’s major export engine could be more severely hit by slowing global economic growth in the coming months.
Taiwan’s Taiex While it was trading up 0.9%, Australia’s S+P/ASX 200 decreased by 0.1 percent.
Opening summary
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of events in the Middle East.
Donald Trump their leaders say Israel And Lebanon Talks are due to take place on Thursday, following the first face-to-face diplomatic talks between the countries in decades.
“I’m trying to create some breathing space between Israel and Lebanon,” the US president said on Truth Social on Wednesday. “It’s been a long time since the two leaders spoke, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow.”
Trump did not say who would be involved or provide further details. The Financial Times, citing Lebanese officials, said a ceasefire could be declared soon.
In previous news, the Israeli prime minister said: Benjamin Netanyahu It was considering a possible ceasefire with Lebanon after pressure from Washington.
Meanwhile, white house Reports that the United States requested an extension of the ceasefire with Iran, which expires next week, were denied. The press secretary said talks between them were “productive and ongoing” Karoline Leavitt he said, and the United States “feels good about the possibility of a deal.”
The United States also announced that it would tighten sanctions on Iran’s oil industry. Oil transport infrastructure will be targeted with sanctions against more than two dozen individuals, companies and ships operating within the oil shipping magnate’s network Muhammad Hossein Shamkhani, Treasury Department said.
In other developments:
-
Pakistani army chief meets Iranian foreign minister in Tehran The latest diplomatic push to ease Middle East tensions and hold a second round of US-Iran talks took place on Wednesday. Trump has previously said the war is “very close to being over.”
-
Leavitt says second round of US-Iran talks will ‘most likely’ take place again in Islamabad and that Pakistan is the “sole mediator” in the discussions.
-
Main Wall Street indices continued their upward rise Optimism regarding the US-Iran deal.
-
Israeli security cabinet meets to discuss ceasefire Following US-brokered Israel-Lebanon talks on Tuesday. However, the Israeli army continues to hit the country; Netanyahu said Israel was about to “crush” the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, describing it as a Hezbollah stronghold.
-
Four Lebanese rescue workers were killed in consecutive Israeli attacks on the village of Mayfadoun in southern Lebanon. on Wednesday, groups of health officials said. Six more people were injured.
-
Centcom, the US military’s Middle East command, said it stopped 10 ships from leaving Iranian ports During the first 48 hours of the US naval blockade. However, ship tracking data showed that at least three ships departing from Iranian ports passed through the Strait of Hormuz, although some ships using the route later turned back.
-
Finance ministers of 11 countries, including the UK and Japan, called for “coordinated emergency support” from the IMF and the World Bank. Assisting countries affected by disruptions resulting from the Middle East war.
