Kamal Ghorui
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said fresh peace talks with Iran could resume “over the next two days”, even as Israel and Lebanon agreed to launch direct negotiations, marking parallel diplomatic movement on two key fronts in the Middle East conflict.The developments come after weekend talks in Islamabad collapsed, prompting Washington to impose a blockade on Iranian ports. Despite the setback, signs of renewed engagement suggest efforts to stabilise the region are still underway.Trump said a new round of talks with Tehran could take place in Pakistan “over the next two days.”“You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there,” he told The New York Post.His remarks followed indications that Iranian officials had reached out seeking a deal, even as tensions remain high after more than six weeks of conflict.Talks held in Islamabad over the weekend failed to produce a breakthrough, raising doubts over the survival of a two-week ceasefire that still has about a week remaining.The war, which began on February 28, has severely disrupted global energy flows, with Iran effectively shutting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for oil and gas shipments.
Israel-Lebanon talks mark breakthrough
In a separate diplomatic development, Israel and Lebanon agreed to begin direct negotiations following talks in Washington.“The participants held productive discussions on steps toward launching direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon,” US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.“All sides agreed to launch direct negotiations at a mutually agreed time and venue,” he added.The meeting, mediated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, lasted over two hours and is being seen as a rare breakthrough between the two countries, which have been formally at war for decades.Lebanon was drawn into the broader conflict on March 2 after Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, launched attacks on Israel in support of Tehran. The escalation triggered Israeli strikes and a ground offensive, killing over 2,000 people and displacing more than a million.
