Trilateral Talks In Islamabad In Progress

Hezbollah and Amal have urged their supporters against holding demonstrations in Lebanon out of a “keenness on stability and civil peace”.

The country has seen antigovernment protests in recent days, Khodr said.

As we reported earlier, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Salam has announced that he is postponing a trip to the US due to the situation in the country.

The U.S. delegation in Islamabad appears to be adopting a more measured approach than the rhetoric being projected by the president in Washington.

President Donald Trump, however, has continued to insert himself into the discussions through posts on social media. In his latest message, he criticised U.S. media outlets as the “fake news media” while highlighting what he considers key developments.

He claimed that the United States had “completely destroyed” Iran’s military capabilities, including its navy and air force, and asserted that Iran’s leadership was “dead.” Trump also said the Strait of Hormuz would soon reopen, adding that ships were already heading to the United States to “load up.”

“While US authorities accuse Iran of lacking ‘good faith’ … elements within the US policy space are outright recommending the assassination of Iranian negotiators in the event that negotiations fail,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has said in a social media post.

In the post, Baghaei shared a screenshot of an opinion piece published by The Washington Post in which the author said “Iran’s leaders must be made to understand that their lives literally depend on reaching a negotiated settlement to Trump’s liking.”

A Palestinian man has been killed by Israeli settlers during an attack on the village of Deir Jarir, east of Ramallah, the Wafa news agency reports.

Citing the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Wafa said that 23-year-old Ali Majed Hamadneh was fatally shot in the back.

He was transported to the Palestine Medical Complex, where he was later pronounced dead, Wafa reported.

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) has reported more Israeli attacks in the south of the country, including a strike that killed at least five people.

The deadly attack took place in Tefahta, where “enemy drones” are still flying overhead, said NNA.

It said another strike also injured a paramedic responding to the scene of an initial attack in the town that killed five people.

Other air raids also occurred in the towns of Seddiqine, Tibnin and Dibbine, NNA reported, without mentioning casualties.

A group of 312 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India through Armenia, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said today.

The fresh batch was brought back home a week after 345 Indian fishermen were evacuated from Iran.

The External Affairs Minister thanked his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, for Armenia’s assistance in return for the Indian nationals.

“Another 312 Indian fishermen safely evacuated from Iran to India through Armenia. Thank the Government of Armenia and my friend @AraratMirzoyan for making it possible,” Mr. Jaishankar said on social media.

-PTI

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has postponed his planned visit to the United Nations and the United States, citing the “current internal situation” in Lebanon.

The announcement comes ahead of expected talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials in the United States next week.

Meanwhile, Lebanese lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah, affiliated with Hezbollah, said the group opposes any direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel. In a statement, he described the move as a “clear violation of the national pact, the constitution and Lebanese laws,” warning that it could deepen domestic divisions at a time when Lebanon needs unity to confront Israel’s actions and maintain civil peace.

In a post on his Truth Social app, the US president said Iran’s minelaying ships “are also lying at the bottom of the sea”.

While claiming all of the Iranian military’s air and naval capabilities have diminished and its missiles and drones “have been largely obliterated”, Trump added:

The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may “bunk” into one of their sea mines which, by the way, all 28 of their mine dropper boats are also lying at the bottom of the sea. We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others. Incredibly, they don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves.